Coughs, Colds and Serious Illnesses Key Message 2:

Sometimes, coughs and colds are signs of a serious problem. A child who is breathing rapidly or with difficulty might have pneumonia, an infection of the lungs. This is a life- threatening disease and the child needs immediate treatment at a health facility.

Most bouts of coughs, colds, sore throats and runny noses end without requiring medication. But sometimes these illnesses are signs of pneumonia, which usually requires antibiotics.

If a health worker provides antibiotics to treat the pneumonia, it is important to follow the instructions and give the child all the medicine for as long as the instructions say, even if the child seems better.

Many children die of pneumonia at home because their caregivers do not realize the seriousness of the illness and the need for immediate medical care. Millions of child deaths from pneumonia can be prevented if:

• parents and caregivers know that rapid and difficult breathing   are danger signs, requiring urgent medical help  

• parents and caregivers know where to get medical help

• medical help and low-cost antibiotics are readily available.

The child should be taken immediately to a health clinic or a trained health worker if any of the following are present:

• the child is breathing much more quickly than usual: for a child  2 to 12 months old — 50 breaths a minute or more; for a child 12 months to 5 years old — 40 breaths a minute or more

• the child is breathing with difficulty or gasping for air

• the lower part of the chest sucks in when the child breathes in, or it looks as though the stomach is moving up and down

• the child has had a cough for more than two weeks

• the child is unable to breastfeed or drink

• the child vomits frequently.

Supporting information for key messages: 1   2   3   4   5