Pnemonia? - Carthage,MO

Lots of fluids. Sometimes they have no appetite. Take the medicine religiously. Watch for shortness of breath or wheezing, call the doc if you see it. Other than that, rest.

You and your son do have my prayers.

Follow your doctor's instructions to the letter and stay in close touch with the office. Give your boy things he can do while he rests. It's frustrating for a child used to running around not to be able to do it comfortably.

Years ago, my youngest son had pneumonia when he was in first grade. Seems to me that he sometimes ran a temperature, and his breathing tended to be labored when he exerted himself. At home, he did a lot of art work, and he practically wore out the little cars that he could play with in bed. We also did a whole lot of reading together. (He's a great reader to this day.) He had to stay out of school for about three weeks; his sweet classmates sent him personal messages, and literally cheered for him when he showed up at last on the last day of school.

Here's a web site that might help. It is one of many.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/pneumonia.html#

I've had pneumonia 5 or 6 times over the years. It's no fun. But - make sure your son takes his meds as prescribed. Don't worry about food but make sure he is drinking - water (best) or gatorade. Make sure he is staying hydrated. Lots of rest. I do good with putting Vicks on my chest. It tends to help me breathe. Ask your doc on that to make sure they are ok with this. Not much more to do. Rest and meds are the best. If he seems to get worse, call your doc asap. Hope he feels better really quick !

my whole family had it last spring. My kids are 5 and 7. First my 7 year old got it. She had a temp of 104 for 5 days. I had taken her to the dr. on day 2 just because of her temp. She had no other symptom. She did have a slight cough but the dr. didn't hear anything while we were there. On day 5 I called her and she sent us to the ER (it was after hours). They did an x ray and it showed the pneumonia. They kept her in the hospital for IV antibiotics.
Then 1 week later my 5 year old got it. Same thing with the high fever, and dr. didn't hear anything while listening. She sent us also for x rays, and it was positive. He was throwing up and (both of my kids) had labored breathing. Both of my kids were out of school for 2 weeks total and they were weak and very tired for about a month total. Then my husband and I both got it. I had to be on 2 rounds of antibiotics since the first round didn't clear it all up. I was very tired and slept most of the day.
Just let your son get a lot of rest and drink a lot of water and juice. My daughter also was not allowed to participate in PE class for 2 weeks after returning to school.
I hope he feels better soon!

I had pneumonia three months ago. I was sick for almost 4 weeks and even had to be hospitalized two days for breathing treatments. I lost 16 pounds in two weeks because I had zero strength or ability to eat or swallow. It is horrible and serious and if he is having a difficult time functioning , breathing or keeping fever down than he needs to go to the emergency room. I had a temp of 105 for two days and later my temp dropped to only 94 degrees, and I had to be warmed up with multiple heated blankets. He will have a hard time breathing, constant coughing up of gunk from deep in the lungs, severe cold chills, night sweats and fever... sleeping elevated can help. Do all you can to keep fevers down and keep him fed and hydrated. My first 10 day round of meds did not work, that's when I had to be admitted to the hospital for the next round of meds. If his meds are not working, than don't wait until the round is over, go in for help immediately.

I've been there. The week before Christmas, my son was diagnosed with it. It's stinks. I would watch his breathing, check his temp, up fluids, give Motrin/tylenol for achiness and chest muscle pain. I know it might be gross, but check his phlegm when he coughs. Check color, and if their is any blood.

I also had a nebulizer at home, so I would do a breathing treatment every 4 hours. I also have a stethoscope, so I would check his lungs. Notice any rattling in chest.

IS he on any medication? My son was on Prednisone and Azithromycin.

Lots and lots of TLC, too!

I think that if this child is at home you need to watch them carefully and monitor their breathing. Each of our kids that had it were hospitalized and they stayed in an oxygen tent with humidity pumped in. This is to make the goo moister and easier to get up. They can also use the in-hospital oxygen system to administer the nebulizer treatments. The air is more pressurized through the system so the med goes much deeper into the lungs. Thus it is easier to cough up the goo from deep in the recesses of the lungs.

Have your child lay down with their head and chest a bit lower than their waist. Maybe on the bed with their head hanging off. Cup your hand like you are trying to drink out of a running river/stream. Pat strongly on their back in a circular motion. Shaping the hand like this causes more vibrations to go through the chest and this also helps the goo to loosen up. The shape of the hand is important too.

#2 is what I am talking about....

http://www.parents.com/baby/health/cough/pneumonia/
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This shows how the hand should be shaped.

http://copd.about.com/od/copdtreatment/ig/Postural-Draina...
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I recently maybe had pneumonia but was given medication and still didn't get better. I had trouble breathing in deeply enough. After going back they did a breathing treatment and that really really helped. It gets down deeper in the lungs. You might suggest that if he doesn't get better. Otherwise rest, fluids, medication and be sure he's breathing okay. I was told there are many kinds of pneumonia and they each affect a different part of the lungs.

Oh boy.
I have not gone through this, but O. of my sons best friends went they it last year, at 8.
Be sure he takes ALL of his meds and take him for all follow up checks.
Our friend had to get treated twice, he was still having fluid/pain in his sides after his first treatment course, so keep in good touch with his doc, ok?
Good luck-hope he bounces back quickly!

The Pediatrician should have told you all this, did you ask him/her????
If not, call the Pediatrician, and ask them.

I would go with the instructions your doctor gave you.