7 main causes of pneumonia in newborns

Pneumonia in newborns is a major disease burden on the health sector. Without timely intervention and treatment, babies face many serious complications that seriously threaten their health and lives. Understanding the causes and spotting the typical symptoms early will help parents "act fast" if their baby is unlucky enough to fall ill, and protect their baby as fully as possible. Content reviewed by Dr Nguyen Thanh Duy, Specialist Level I, founder of Care For Kids Paediatric Clinic.

1. What is pneumonia in newborns?

• Pneumonia in newborns is a serious lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi,… When infected, the small airways in the lungs swell and produce a lot of mucus, and this mucus blocks the airways and reduces the amount of oxygen that can enter the body.
• Medical experts warn that pneumonia is one of the leading causes of respiratory failure, requiring intubation, prolonged mechanical ventilation and emergency intensive care (ICU), and leading to higher death rates in newborns, especially premature and low-birth-weight babies,…

2. Types of pneumonia in newborns

Pneumonia can be classified in many different ways depending on the cause and purpose of classification. However, pneumonia in newborns is divided into 2 main types:

a. Early-onset pneumonia (appearing before 3 days of age) includes:

Congenital pneumonia (congenital lung malformation): Part of early-onset pneumonia, acquired in the womb and usually appearing right after birth. It is caused by inhaling infected amniotic fluid, damaged or infected amniotic membranes, or infection via the blood through the placenta

Pneumonia acquired during birth: This happens during delivery when the mum has a genital tract infection or her waters break early, allowing bacteria to enter and cause a respiratory infection in the baby. Meconium aspiration pneumonia is a severe case that needs prompt treatment right at birth.

b. Late-onset pneumonia (appearing after 3 days of age):

This occurs when delivery and postnatal care, the surrounding environment or medical equipment are not hygienic enough, making it easy for bacteria to infect the baby. It is mostly seen in babies staying in hospital or when the mum does not keep the baby clean enough.

Parents should regularly keep an eye on their baby's condition to spot early signs such as fever, refusing to feed, rapid breathing… and take the baby to a medical facility immediately for timely examination and treatment, to avoid serious complications that could be fatal.

3. Causes of pneumonia in newborns

According to experts, there are many causes of pneumonia in newborns, but the most common are: the pneumococcus bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Listeria, E. coli, Gram-negative bacteria,… In addition, some other causes of pneumonia in newborns are:

• Viruses: Viruses cause 80-85% of pneumonia cases in newborns and can spread as seasonal outbreaks.
• Bacteria such as: S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, S. aureus...
• The baby inhaling infected amniotic fluid or meconium, or secretions from the mum's genital tract during birth.
• In newborns and underweight babies: the digestive system is immature and muscle movement is not yet coordinated, so reflux (spitting up) is common and milk can be accidentally inhaled into the lungs, causing rapid breathing, breathlessness and bluish discolouration around the eyes. The more milk inhaled, the more severe the symptoms, and it can lead to pneumonia.
• Babies with conditions such as skin inflammation, mouth inflammation or umbilical cord infection can also develop pneumonia.
• Babies living in unhygienic environments such as polluted air, dirty water, exposure to lots of cigarette smoke,…
• Babies getting cold when not kept warm in cold weather, or being wrapped too warmly;…

Once you understand the causes, adjust the factors related to the living environment, temperature.. to help protect your baby from pneumonia!

References:

• Children's Hospital (Nhi Dong)

• Vietnam Vaccine JSC