Pneumonia in children - community acquired: when to get help
Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Call emergency services if the child:
Has severe difficulty breathing or pauses in breathing
Has blue, grey or unusually pale lips, tongue or skin
Is very drowsy, difficult to wake, confused or floppy
Cannot speak, cry, drink or feed because of breathlessness
Has a seizure
Develops a non-fading rash with severe illness
Do not wait for every emergency sign to appear.
Skin colour changes can be harder to see on darker skin, so also check the lips, tongue, gums, palms and soles.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Arrange prompt medical assessment if you think a child may have pneumonia, especially if they have fast breathing, ongoing fever, chest pain, poor feeding or worsening symptoms after an initial improvement.
A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher needs urgent medical assessment.
Very young babies can become unwell without obvious symptoms.
Seek urgent same-day help if the child:
Is breathing faster or working harder than usual
Is drinking much less or passing much less urine
Keeps vomiting or cannot take prescribed medicine
Remains feverish or unwell after 48 to 72 hours of treatment
Becomes more unwell after starting to recover
Has a long-term condition or weakened immune system
And for anyone, someone who:
has a wound that is hot, spreading red, or leaking pus
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Pneumonia in children - community acquired. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.