YOUR CHILD IS COUGHING. ARE THE RIBS DISAPPEARING WITH EVERY BREATH?
Please, look at your child’s chest the next time they have a cough. What you see could save their life.
Today is World Pneumonia Day, and there’s something I want every parent to know.
A child with pneumonia may have a cough and fever. But sometimes, the most worrying sign is how the child is breathing.
LOOK OUT FOR THESE WARNING SIGNS:
1. The chest is pulling inward.
Watch the lower part of your child’s chest when they breathe in. Is the area below the ribs sinking inward instead of moving outward?
This is called chest indrawing. It may mean your child is struggling to breathe. Seek urgent medical care.
2. Your child is breathing unusually fast.
Count the breaths for one full minute while your child is calm.
For a child with a cough, fast breathing means:
- Under 2 months: 60 or more breaths per minute.
- 2–11 months: 50 or more breaths per minute.
- 12 months–5 years: 40 or more breaths per minute.
Fast breathing needs prompt medical assessment. Don’t wait for your child to develop a high fever.
3. Your baby is struggling to feed.
If your baby cannot breastfeed or drink normally because they are struggling to breathe, seek emergency care.
4. Your child is unusually sleepy or difficult to wake.
A child who is barely responding, unusually floppy or too weak to feed needs emergency medical attention.
5. The lips or tongue look blue or grey.
This may mean your child is not getting enough oxygen. This is an emergency.
WHAT ABOUT COUGH SYRUP?
Cough syrup will not treat pneumonia. Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines can also be dangerous for young children.
Not every cough requires antibiotics, but bacterial pneumonia may need prompt antibiotic treatment.
If your baby is younger than three months and has a temperature of 38°C or higher, seek immediate medical assessment.
Remember: A child does not need to have every warning sign before you seek help. Severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, or difficulty waking your child are reasons to seek emergency care immediately.
Have you ever noticed a child’s chest pulling inward while they were breathing? Did you know what it meant?
#WorldPneumoniaDay
#HealthyLivingWithDrKetch
