Provide nutritious and easily digestible food according to the child's age. For infants who are breastfed or bottle-fed, milk should be the main food, and they can be given a small amount of water appropriately. Milk can be diluted with a little water, fed in smaller amounts, and more frequently. If choking occurs, milk in the nostrils should be cleared promptly. For older children who can eat, provide nutritious, easily digestible, and light meals, with more fruits, vegetables, and water.
Foods to Avoid in Pediatric Pneumonia
(1) Avoid High-Protein Diets The main components of lean meat, fish, and eggs are protein. 1 gram of protein requires 18 milliliters of water for absorption in the body, and the final product of protein metabolism is urea. When a child consumes more protein, the amount of urea excreted also increases. For every 300 milligrams of urea excreted, at least 20 milliliters of water is lost. Therefore, children with high fever and dehydration should avoid high-protein diets. It can be appropriately supplemented in the later stages of the disease to improve physical fitness.
(2) Avoid Foods High in Sugar Sugar is a source of calories with a simple function and basically contains no other nutrients. If children with pneumonia eat too much sugar, the bactericidal effect of white blood cells in the body will be inhibited. The more sugar consumed, the more significant the inhibition, which can worsen the condition.
(3) Avoid Spicy Foods Spicy foods are highly irritating and can easily generate heat and damage body fluids. Therefore, spicy oil, pepper, and other spicy condiments should not be added to the diet of children with pneumonia.
(4) Avoid Greasy and Rich Foods The digestive function of children with pneumonia is often impaired. Eating greasy and rich foods can further affect digestion, preventing necessary nutrients from being replenished in a timely manner, which weakens the body's resistance to disease. Therefore, it is not advisable to eat rich foods such as cod liver oil, pine egg yolks, crab roe, mullet roe, carp roe, and animal内脏. If drinking milk, the layer of cream on top should be removed. Nursing mothers should also eat less greasy food to avoid worsening the condition.
(5) Avoid Raw and Cold Foods Overconsumption of raw and cold foods like watermelon, ice cream, frozen juice, popsicles, cold drinks, bananas, and raw pears can easily damage the body's yang energy. When yang energy is compromised, the body lacks the strength to fight off pathogens, making the condition difficult to recover. Therefore, these foods should be avoided, especially for children with digestive symptoms.
(6) Avoid Tea Most children with pneumonia have a fever and should avoid drinking tea. The theophylline in tea has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, which can keep the brain in an excited state, increase the pulse rate, and raise blood pressure. When there is a fever, the body is in an excited state of fighting pathogens, with a faster pulse. Drinking tea can stimulate the heart muscle, increase consumption, and not only fail to reduce the fever but may also raise the body temperature and trigger other diseases. Additionally, the tannic acid in tea has an astringent effect. Traditional Chinese medicine believes it hinders the outward dispersion of pathogens from the body's surface, making it unsuitable for children with a fever.
(7) Avoid Indiscriminate Use of Heat-Clearing Medicines Heat-clearing medicines like honeysuckle tea, green fruit, and Banlangen granules can be beneficial for children with pneumonia. However, they should not be taken for a long time, especially for children with weaker constitutions. Do not use them lightly, as they can damage the body's vital energy and aggravate the original symptoms.
(8) Avoid Acidic Drugs and Foods Sour substances like Schisandra berry, black plum, vitamin C, sour fruits, oranges, and vinegar have an astringent effect that can hinder sweating and the resolution of the exterior syndrome.
(9) Avoid Abuse of Antipyretics Using excessive antipyretics at the very onset of a fever is not only detrimental to the body but can also mask the condition and delay treatment. Therefore, antipyretics should be used with caution for children with a fever, and excessive dosage should be avoided to prevent a sudden drop in body temperature, profuse sweating, and collapse.