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That depends on the type of infection and how sick your baby is. For bacterial pneumonia, doctors prescribe antibiotics. Viral pneumonia doesn't respond to antibiotics, so treatment may be limited to rest and fluids. In fact, getting enough fluids is vital, to fight the dehydration from rapid breathing and fever that's often a side effect of pneumonia.
You may want to try a cool mist humidifier in your baby's room, and ask the doctor if it's okay to give her acetaminophen if she's feverish. He may also recommend cough medication if coughing is keeping her awake.
If your baby needs to be treated for bacterial pneumonia in the hospital, she may be given fluids and antibiotics through an IV. The nurses may suction her nose regularly and keep an eye on her blood oxygen levels with a pulse oximetry sensor, which painlessly clips onto your baby's finger. She may also be fitted with a nasal oxygen tube or mask to make breathing easier.
Most uncomplicated pneumonia gets better within a week, although the cough can last for weeks.
To boost her chance of staying pneumonia-free in the future:
(once your baby is 6 months old), chicken pox, and pneumococcal vaccines can all help prevent pneumonia. Ask the doctor for advice if your child has missed any scheduled vaccinations. (Some of these are scheduled to begin in your child's first year. Others start at 12 months.)
Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands and your baby's hands often to prevent the spread of germs. Don't let your baby share cups or utensils. Regularly wash all the places germy body parts might touch, like the phone, toys, doorknobs, and the refrigerator door handle.
Make yours a smoke-free home. If you or your partner smokes, do it outside, and ask guests to do the same. Better yet, ask your doctor about finding a program to help you quit. Studies have shown that children who live around cigarette smoke, even for short periods, get sick more often and are more susceptible to pneumonia, upper respiratory infec
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