Martha has been showing signs of pneumonia for the past week. Her pediatrician is still ruling out asthma so she is on meds until tomorrow when she goes back in for her check up. We would be having her X-Ray too to rule out everything. I really hope it is just the flu or an asthma attack because if its pneumonia, she would have to be confined .

Also, since this is her third asthma attack in a month, her pedia has advised us to start considering giving her maintenance medicines. Im still in denial though. I will wait it out when she goes to Amadeo for a week. If fresh air wont change her attacks, Ill bite the bullet and have her on meds. I dont want to have asthma maintenance meds for her as I’ve read there are side effects on the heart.

It is important to note that:

The pathognomic sign of pneumonia is the presence of crackles (also called as crepitations). Localized crepts in a febrile child without underlying lung disease is pneumonia until proven otherwise. However, not all children with pneumonia have crepitations. Decreased breath sounds with dull note on percussion and presence of bronchial breathing are also suggestive of pneumonia.

Now for mommies, here are links I’ve read about pneumonia and tips to prevent them:
Medical: Pneumonia and its Causes
Baby Center: What is pneumonia and its signs?

Martha’s cousin who is just older by six months got confined last weekend because of pneumonia too. My sister in law told me there were a lot of babies younger that Martha and her cousin who were confined It must be in the season.

Here are some tips:
From Baby Center:
To boost her chance of staying pneumonia-free in the future:

• Keep her vaccinations up to date. The Hib, DTaP, MMR, flu, chicken pox, and pneumococcal vaccines can all help prevent pneumonia. Ask the doctor for advice if your child has missed any scheduled vaccinations. (Some of these are scheduled to begin in your child’s first year. Others start at 12 months.)

• Practice good personal hygiene. Teach your toddler the art of hand-washing, and help her do it after using the bathroom, before meals, and any other time she may have come into contact with germs. And do the same yourself. Don’t let your toddler share cups or utensils with friends or family members. Regularly wash all the places germy body parts might touch, like the phone, toys, doorknobs, and the refrigerator handle.

• Make yours a smoke-free home. If you or your partner smokes, do it outside, and ask guests to do the same. Better yet, ask your doctor about finding a program to help you quit. Studies have shown that children who live around cigarette smoke, even for short periods, get sick more often and are more susceptible to pneumonia, upper respiratory infections, asthma, and ear infections.

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