
14/09/2025
COLD DOESN’T CAUSE PNEUMONIA IN BABIES: HERE’S WHAT REALLY DOES AND HOW TO PREVENT IT
Many people believe that drinking cold water in pregnancy or exposing a baby to cold weather causes pneumonia. This is a myth. Pneumonia is not caused by cold, it is caused by an infection in the lungs.
So what really causes pneumonia?
Pneumonia happens when bacteria or viruses infect a baby’s lungs and make breathing difficult. These germs can spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes near the child, or sometimes after a simple cold that didn’t get better.
Cold weather itself does not cause pneumonia, but because coughs and colds are more common during rainy and cold seasons, babies can be more easily exposed to the germs that lead to pneumonia.
Warning signs to watch out for in your baby:
• Fast or difficult breathing
• Chest pulling in with each breath
• Grunting or noisy breathing
• High fever
• Cough (with or without catarrh)
• Refusing to feed or poor appetite
• Baby is weak, very sleepy, or unusually irritable
Important reminders:
• Pneumonia is not malaria, so malaria drugs or herbs will not cure it.
• Drinking cold water in pregnancy cannot give your baby pneumonia.
• Early hospital treatment can save a baby’s life.
How to protect your baby:
• Keep your baby warm and away from people who are coughing or sneezing.
• Do not expose your baby to smoke from firewood, ci******es, or burning materials.
• Treat coughs and colds early and monitor your baby closely.
• Seek medical care immediately if you notice any warning signs.
Pneumonia can be serious, but with quick medical attention babies recover well. As parents, your fast action can make all the difference.
Cred:Midwife Chiamaka