Pneumonia Symptoms

After having symptoms of a mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as a runny nose and mild cough, children who develop pneumonia may have a sudden worsening and develop other symptoms, including:

• worsening cough
• fever
• increased respiratory rate (tachypnea)
• retractions (labored breathing)
• wheezing (usually a sign of viral pneumonia)
• cyanosis
• decreased breath sounds
• crackles
• chest pain
• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• nasal flaring

Keep in mind that The World Health Organization defines tachypnea as a respiratory rate of more than 50 breaths per minute for infants two to twelve months of age, more than 40 breaths per minute for children one to five years of age, and more than 30 breaths per minute for children over age five.

For more information, see our guide to childhood pneumonia.

References

• Pediatric pneumonia Lichenstein R - Emerg Med Clin North Am - 01-MAY-2003; 21(2): 437-51
• Pneumonia in hospitalized children Sandora TJ - Pediatr Clin North Am - 01-AUG-2005; 52(4): 1059-81, viii