Pneumonia - Risk Factors

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Specific Risk Factors for Recurrent Pneumonia in Children

Certain children have a higher-than-normal risk for pneumonia and pneumonia that returns. Conditions that predispose infants and small children to pneumonia include:

• Abnormalities in muscle coordination of the mouth and throat
• Asthma
• Certain genetic disorders such as Kartagener syndrome, which result in poorly functioning cilia, the hair-like cells lining the airways
• Cystic fibrosis
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and other chronic lung diseases
• Prematurity, especially during the first 6 - 12 months of life
• Sickle cell disease
• Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
• Impaired immune system
• Inborn lung or heart defects

Review Date: 04/13/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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