Neonatal pneumonia
Neonatal pneumonia
Infection in the lung are most commonly bacterial but may also be viral.
May be categorised into the following
- Pneumonia acquired from the mother: congenital/transnatal. The onset of clinical signs is delayed for a few hours or days.
- Aspiration pneumonia.
Clinical Presentation
The diagnosis is made on history and clinical symptoms. Pneumonia may be one symptom of a clinical spectrum of sepsis.
In newborn, pneumonia may present as:
- Respiratory distress
- Apnoea (Forgetting to breath)
Investigations
- Chest X-ray (AP and Lateral): X-ray findings may not be specific in pneumonia but may show non-specific areas of consolidation or atelectasis.
- Septic Screening and Management of Infection.
Aspiration Pneumonia
Inhalation of milk or other agents, associated with respiratory symptoms.
Aspiration pneumonia may occur due to sucking/swallowing in-coordination caused by:
- Prematurity
- Structural malformations
- Neurological disorders
- HIE
- Syndromes with poor sucking
- Syndromes attributed to Gastro Oesophageal Reflux