Pulmonary Edema in Children

 Written by: Waheeda Sabir

Children due to their low body resistance are facing more diseases and if some diseases are not treated on time, they might face pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lungs).

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people and a physician about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of this disease.

Sadruddin, a resident of Kabul city says, “My child was suffering from pneumonia and when I took him to the hospital, the doctor told me that water is accumulated in his lungs and unfortunately, he died.”

Ateequllah, a resident of Shakardara district, Kabul province says, “My brother-in-law has only one sun and he became ill with pneumonia. Their parents thought his pneumonia an ordinary disease. When they took him to the hospital, the doctors told them that water has excessed to his lungs he died from that disease.”

Doctor Abdul Hakeem Mukhlis, an internist at Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital, Kabul city talks about the symptoms and causes of this disease, “Due different causes water excess into the lungs and one cause of this disease is tuberculosis. Tuberculosis affected child suffers from coughing; weight loss; slight fever and sweating and if the cause of this disease is heart failure; asthma bronchitis, changing the color of the hands, feet, and lips are the signs of this disease and if not treated on time, the patient might die.”

A mother from Kabul province says,“My child is suffering from pulmonary edema but I don’t know about the cause of his disease.”

Assadullah, a resident of Kabul city says, “Most children became ill with pneumonia in the winter and when they do not treat it, it causes pulmonary edema.”

Doctor Mukhlis says, “The cause of this disease is tuberculosis, heart failure, pneumonia, and some kinds of cancers.”

How do people prevent their children from pulmonary edema?

Noorullah, a resident of Shakardara district, Kabul province says, “When my child becomes ill, I take him/her to the doctor to prevent pulmonary edema.”

Ateequllah says, “When our children become sick, especially when they become ill with pneumonia, we take them to the clinic or a doctor for treatment.”

Doctor Mukhlis says, “When mothers consider their children sickness, especially tuberculosis, pneumonia, and heart failure, they must take them to the doctor for essential treatment. The parents should apply all types of vaccines to their children and feed them with nutritious foods and pay special attention to their cleanliness.”