For young children, Bronchitis is a less severe form of Pneumonia, but it is from Bronchitis that Pneumonia develops if it is left unchecked.

Bronchitis is basically an infection of the bronchial tubes so is a respiratory infection. Babies and small children are susceptible to Bronchitis because their immune systems are not mature enough to handle all the winter infections that come their way.  Bronchitis can either be chronic or acute; acute Bronchitis only lasts a few days and Chronic Bronchitis can last for months, sometimes years.

What are the Symptoms of Bronchitis?

Typical symptoms of Bronchitis include:

A dry cough

A headache

Chills

Fever

Wheezing and sometimes a tightness of the chest

Mucus being brought up when your child coughs


How will it be diagnosed?
A GP will take a look at your child and probably listen to his chest with a stethoscope to determine whether he has the infection. A further X-ray may be needed if Bronchitis is suspected.

Is it contagious?
Unfortunately not only is Bronchitis contagious but it can be caught from others when they sneeze or cough, or touching places where an infected person has touched.


Bronchitis treatment
Treatment depends on the type of infection your child has. If it has been caused by a virus, antibiotics will not work and the doctor will probably advise you to take your child home, make sure they get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and give him lots of cuddles. If your child’s Bronchitis was caused by Bacterium, antibiotics may be prescribed depending on the age of your child.

Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an illness where the lungs are infected by many different germs and become inflamed. Babies are particularly susceptible to Pneumonia because their immune systems are weak and still developing. Infections mainly occur in autumn and winter and are a very serious infection especially if you are weak or already ill.

There are different types of Pneumonia, bacterial and viral. Bacterial Pneumonia develops when bacteria that normally live harmlessly in the throat enter the lungs causing infection. This can happen particularly when your immune system is lower than normal.


Viral Pneumonia is caused by viral organisms similar to those that cause the common cold. Children can develop viral Pneumonia after illnesses such as, colds, flu, measles, herpes and chickenpox.

Symptoms of Pneumonia

The symptoms of Pneumonia are:

Fever

A bad cough

Rapid breathing

Vomiting

Diarrhoea

Pains in the chest

The difference with Pneumonia is that these symptoms will not improve in time but steadily worsen. They can also follow other illnesses mentioned above. If you notice your child has had these symptoms but is not getting any better even after a few days of rest, fluids and fever medicine, consult a doctor.

The doctor can diagnose your child by listening to her chest with a stethoscope. If Pneumonia is suspected your child may have to go to hospital for a chest X-ray to check how serious the infection is. If the condition is severe the medical staff may take a sample of phlegm to grow under laboratory conditions in order to discover which type of Pneumonia your child has got.

What is the treatment?
Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, but viral infections cannot be. Your child will need plenty of rest, fluids and possibly oxygen through a facemask to help him breathe more easily.

How can I help my child?
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest, fluids and is warm enough but his room is also well ventilated. If he is old enough a pillow propped up behind him might help breathing a little easier.

Try to keep your child’s vaccinations up to date as this helps to stop many of the illnesses that can lead to Pneumonia, for instance measles.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Last Modified: 15/07/2009