Respiratory system pathologies pose a threat to human health due to differences in the localization of the disease, the patient’s age and his immune forces. For example, chlamydial pneumonia in children (the causative agent is chlamydia pneumonia) is a serious disease, since it has a severe course and causes a number of dangerous complications. At the first signs of illness, it is necessary to take the child to a doctor.   

Chlamydia

Disease manifestations

Chlamydial pneumonia develops rather slowly. Usually, at the first stage, the symptoms are almost invisible, but after a while the pathology causes significant damage to the lungs, and then the patient feels severe discomfort and pain. 

Pneumonia caused by of Chlamydophila pneumoniae

This infection most commonly affects the lungs of young children, adolescents, and young adults. In the first days, symptoms of intoxication are immediately noticeable , that is, the disease takes on an acute form. It is also likely to develop rhinitis, laryngitis and other diseases in which the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract becomes inflamed. The patient’s nasal breathing is disturbed, the voice becomes hoarse.  

Pneumonia itself is diagnosed in 1-4 weeks, depending on the person’s immunity. He has a fever, a headache and a cough with difficult to separate phlegm.

Chlamydia trachomatis pneumonia

Bronchitis

Often, inflammation occurs against the background of otitis media, bronchitis or conjunctivitis. Symptoms are initially limited to dry cough, cyanosis, vomiting, and tachypnea, but dyspnea develops later.

Chlamydophila psittaci pneumonia

The clinical course of psittacosis can be different: without any pronounced symptoms to severe intoxication. A characteristic feature of infection is hyperthermia, leading to chills and headache. Over time, children are diagnosed with an enlarged spleen and liver, chest pain, dry cough. Digestive problems and nosebleeds are common. 

Causes of occurrence

There are several ways to get infected with any strain of infection:

  • Close contact with a carrier of the pathogen: When kissing or hugging, chlamydia can enter the lungs of another person.
  • Walking in the habitat of a large number of birds. Their excrement is an excellent medium for the development of Chlamydophila psittaci , which is one of the most serious respiratory infections.
  • Pets can also become carriers of pathogenic microorganisms, so they need to be taken regularly for veterinary examinations. 
  • Newborns can be infected by an infected mother. It should be noted that therapy for the disease is considered inappropriate, since doctors are worried about the condition of the fetus. In such cases, pathogens easily infect the baby by getting into the amniotic fluid, or while passing through the birth canal.

It must be remembered that a small child is not able to describe the symptoms of pneumonia, so parents should pay attention to his behavior. In case of uncharacteristic changes in habits, sleep disturbances and refusal to eat, it is necessary to take the baby to a pediatrician for examination.  

Sleep disturbance

Development progress

Chlamydia is classified as an obligate gram-negative pathogen that parasitizes when it enters the cells of an animal or human. The infection can be in one of two forms: elementary and reticular bodies. In an elementary form, chlamydia is very tenacious and is in the host’s body for a long time. As soon as they enter the cell, the pathogen turns into a reticular body: it begins to divide and becomes metabolically active. The cell of the carrier of the infection turns into a breeding ground, and within 2 days it ruptures, after which chlamydia again takes on an elementary form. The cycle repeats, and in this way the pathogen spreads through the lungs.

Diagnosis of the disease

The danger of pneumonia is that it is often confused with the common cold. For this reason, patients do not pay due attention to the diagnosis, which leads to the wrong selection of drugs and ineffective treatment. If a child’s condition worsens, it should be shown to a doctor. First, the pediatrician draws up a general clinical picture based on an external examination and questioning of the child or his parents.

After that, directions are given for passing tests and passing a number of studies. Blood allows you to determine changes in the amount of IgG and IgM antibodies : if there are more of them, the body fights inflammation. Sputum analysis is necessary for bacteriological culture and determination of an effective antibiotic.  

Allergotest

Fluorography is used to localize inflammation, and an x-ray is used for the same purpose. If the disease has an unclear etiology, as an additional diagnosis, the doctor prescribes PCR, an allergy test, and a study of a micro-immunofluorescent reaction. 

Therapies

In the treatment of chlamydial pneumonia, medicines play the main role, and folk remedies are a supportive measure that does not cure the disease, but weakens its manifestations.   

The use of drugs

Specific pharmaceuticals are prescribed by the doctor after the diagnosis and the final diagnosis.

Antibiotics are needed to destroy chlamydia:

  • tetracyclines;
  • macrolides;
  • fluoroquinolones .

Macrolides are commonly used because they cause few side reactions. They are prescribed for children, pregnant and lactating women, as well as patients with weak immunity.

Vitamins

In addition, the doctor prescribes immunomodulators and vitamins to restore the body. As symptomatic therapy, antitussive and pain relieving medications are prescribed.

Traditional medicine

Home treatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms of childhood pneumonia. For example, warm milk with honey and radish juice help to get rid of a painful cough. Animal fat strengthens the immune system and relieves bronchial spasms: it is used both orally and as compresses.  

Inhalation for pneumonia is carried out only after a doctor’s approval. The broth can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared from medicinal herbs: sage, coltsfoot, wild rosemary and chamomile.

Forecast

At a young age, the likelihood of recovery in the absence of concomitant diseases is quite high. Nevertheless , babies have a risk of complications due to insufficiently strong immunity, and every delay can cost the child’s life. 

Myocarditis

Severe pneumonia leads to pleurisy, pneumothorax, myocarditis. Even a cured patient may have bronchial asthma for life. In severe cases, he is admitted to the clinic to monitor his condition. 

Prophylaxis

In order to prevent the appearance of chlamydial pneumonia in children, you need to know the following rules: 

  • The child needs to be provided with adequate nutrition so that he does not have a deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Don’t give a lot of junk food, soda, and other junk food.
  • It is necessary to limit his contact with infected people: isolation from the patient is important, since the infection is transmitted even through hugs.  
  • It is also worth avoiding gathering places of wild birds, as chlamydia may be in their droppings, and small children often fall and get their hands dirty.
  • Inhalation of tobacco smoke often acts as a provoking factor. For this reason, adults should not smoke near a child.
  • During pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to monitor her health and prevent the appearance of pneumonia. Otherwise, the pathology can be transmitted to the child, and then the baby’s health will be undermined.

Fast food

To protect your child from pneumonia, you need to follow the doctor’s recommendations and not treat the disease yourself. This kind of initiative usually leads to chronic disease and complications.  

Timely treatment of chlamydial pneumonia can reduce the risk of concomitant diseases. When treating young children, adults must exactly follow all the doctor’s prescriptions and do not forget about regular checkups with a pediatrician. Prevention also plays a big role: it is easier to prevent illness than to cure it.