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Pneumonia refers to acute inflammation of
the lungs. It is one of the most serious infectious
diseases. The condition becomes complicated if both the
lungs are affected. It is called double pneumonia in
common parlance.
The World Health Organisation has categorised this
disease as a leading killer of infants and chldren,
particularly in developing countries like India. In a
study conducted by researches, it has been estimated that
pneumonia is a contributory cause for 20 per cent of
acute diarrhoeal disease, 18 per cent of gross
malnutrition and 17 per cent of tuberculosis and other
infectious diseases. It has also been estimated that 16
per cent of the deaths among children is caused by
penumonia.
There are two varies of pneumonia , broncho-pneumonia and
lobar pneumonia. The first is the common form seen in
children under two years. The second is rare among
infants, but is common in older children. Lobar pneumonia
is far less fatal in children than in adults. It usually
pursues a short and sharp courseand terminates generally
within a week.
Bronchi-pneumonia pursues a course varying from 10 to 20
days or longer. It terminates gradually, and not suddenly
like lobar pneumonia. The onset may be abrupt, but is
often gradual. Symptoms
Most cases of
pneumonia begin with cold in the head or throat. The
child-patient generally feels chilly, shivers, has
difficulty in breathing and sharp pain in the chest. This
may be followed by a cough with pinkish sputum which may
later become brownish. The patient usually suffers from
fever and headache. In more serious cases, the sputum may
be rusty colour. In young children, the disease may cause
delirium and convulsions. Most children feel very
miserable and sweat profusely. The temperature may rise
to 105 o F and pulse may go upto 150 beats per
minutes. A common complication of all kinds of pneumonia
is pleurisy.
Causes
The disease is
caused by various types of germs such as streptococcus,
staphylococcus and pneu-nococcus varieties. At times,
certain viruses are also responsible for the disease.
Other causes of this disease are fungal infection,
irritation by worms, inhaling foreign matter, irritant
dust or noxious gases and vapours such as amonia,
nitrogen dioxide or cadmium.
The real cause of pneumonia, however, is the toxic
condition of the body, especially of the lungs and air
passages resulting from wrong feeding. Children with
healthy tissues and strong vital force are unlikely to
catch the disease. It is only when the system is clogged
with toxic matter and the vitality is low that the germs
of pneumonia invade a child.
Treatment
The child -patient
should be kept in bed in a well-ventilated room. He
should not be given any solid foods and he should be
encouraged to take large amount of fluids, especially
fruit and vegetable juices diluted in water, for first
few days of the treatment. Fruits such as orange,
mosambi, apple, pineapple and grapes and vegetables like
carrots and tomatoes may be used for juices. The patient
should also be given plenty of warm water frequently. It
is necessary to change the position of child -patient
quite often.
After the fever subsides, the child should be put on a
light nourishing diet, especially fresh juicy fruits such
as apple, grapes, pineapple, mango, orange, lemon and
papaya. Thereafter, he may be allowed gradually to adopt
a well-balanced diet, according to his age, with emphasis
on fresh fruits and raw or lightly cooked vegetables.
The child-patient should avoid refined foods, fried
foods,white flour and all products made from them and
condiments. He should also avoid meat.
The best way to reduce temperature naturally during the
course of fever, is by means of a cold pack, which can be
applied to the whole body. The procedure for this pack
has been explained in Appendix.
During the early acute stage of this diseae, herbal tea
made from fenugreek (methid ) seeds will help the body to
produce perspiration, dispel toxicity and shorten the
period of fever. It can be taken by the child-patient
upto two cups daily, half a cup each time. The quantity
can be reduced as condition improves. To improve flavour,
a few drops of lemon juice can be mixed in it.
Pain in the chest can be relieved by rubbing oil of
turpentine over the rib cage and wrapping warm cotton
wool over it. Three or four hot fomentations can also be
used for the same purpose. Inhalation of steam will be
useful for relieving cough.
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