Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board En español  My
child has a bad cough and fever. Could it be pneumonia?
Possibly, since cough and fever are two of pneumonia's main
symptoms. Other symptoms can include weakness, vomiting,
diarrhea, loss of appetite, headache, muscle pain, and trouble
breathing. Pneumonia can strike anytime, but it usually shows up
in winter and spring, often after a cold or other upper
respiratory infection.  If you think your child may have
pneumonia, see a doctor right away. Some cases are mild, but it
can also be serious.  Are there different kinds of pneumonia?
Yes. Pneumonia is a general term for infection of the lungs, and
it can be caused by many different organisms.  Babies and young
children may get pneumonia from respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV), for example, and infants may get it from group B
streptococcus (GBS) acquired at birth, during delivery. An older
baby or child might develop pneumonia as the result of other
bacterial or viral infections.  Doctors group