children s health issues
Pneumonia in Newborns
Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Newborns
Chest x-ray Blood tests Pulse oximetry Sputum tests To diagnose pneumonia, doctors do a chest x-ray. They do blood tests to look for bacteria in the blood. Because infants who have pneumonia may have low levels of oxygen in their blood, doctors measure levels of oxygen in the blood by placing a sensor on a finger or an earlobe. This test is called Pulse oximetry . Doctors may also obtain a sample of sputum and test it to look for bacteria. Because pneumonia caused by bacteria may spread, doctors may test newborns for sepsis, which includes a spinal tap (see Diagnosis ). 