Pneumonia

Question 1

What is the main cause of neonatal pneumonia?

Answer 1

Group B streptococcus from mothers genital tract

Question 2

What is the main cause of pneumonia in children under the age of 2?

Answer 2

Viral (Respiratory syncytial virus)

Question 3

What are the causes of pneumonia in children over the age of 2?

Answer 3

Bacterial:

Streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae type B, staphylococcus aureus, mycoplasma.

Question 4

What is this a presentation of?
Fever, malaise, poor feeding, typical labour signs (pleural pain, crackles), respiratory distress, cyanosis, reduced air entry, dullness to percussion, low saturations.

Answer 4

Pneumonia

Question 5

How is pneumonia diagnosed in a child?

Answer 5

1. Coarse crepitations in atypical lobar distribution
2. Nasal pharyngeal aspirate for viral PCR
3. Sats, CXR
4. FBC, blood/sputum culture, blood gas

Question 6

When should you admit a child with pneumonia and how do you treat them?

Answer 6

1. If respiratory distress, sats <92%, poor feeding.

2. IV antibiotics and oxygen

Question 7

How do you treat a child with pneumonia who you are not admitting to hospital?

Answer 7

Oral amoxicillin 1st line (clarithromycin if allergic), antipyretic, follow-up, safety netting.