Pediatrician Dr. Kanya Ayu, Sp.A, a graduate of the University of Indonesia, said parents need to pay more attention to more serious coughs and colds in children.
"Many people misunderstand that pneumonia is a clinical symptom consisting of fever, cough, shortness of breath, and oxygen deficiency. So, these four symptoms must be present first. Not all colds and fevers are considered pneumonia, as long as there is no shortness of breath and no oxygen deficiency," Kanya said at the World Pneumonia Day 2025 media session in Jakarta on Monday.
He said Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacteria causing pneumonia, along with Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and other viruses. It can affect all ages, especially children under 5 years old because their immune systems are immature, and the elderly because their immunity is significantly weakened.
Kanya explained that the signs of pneumonia include abnormally rapid breathing and retractions involving the muscles below the neck, between the ribs and the pit of the stomach.
In addition, children with pneumonia are seen breathing with their nostrils flaring and contracting, indicating shortness of breath.
"Sometimes the head is so congested that it causes head bobbing. If possible, don't wait for all of them to appear. It's better to take just one of them and have it checked out," said Kanya.