Noel N., 13

Noel is a 13-year-old Grade Six pupil at a local public day school. She is a humble and active girl who enjoys playing netball and dreams of becoming a teacher after completing her education. Noel lives in the village with her mother and six siblings. Her mother, the sole breadwinner, sells vegetables at the local market, earning a modest income that barely meets the family’s basic needs and school expenses. Recently, Noel had been unwell for about a week, beginning with a cough and chest pain that progressively worsened. She later developed a high fever and started breathing rapidly and with great difficulty. Concerned for her daughter’s health, her mother hurriedly took her to the hospital. Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, the medical team promptly assessed her condition and found that she was critically ill.

Noel came to the facility complaining of a 1-week history of cough and chest pain. The illness was associated with high-grade fever and progressively worsening shortness of breath, characterized by fast breathing. On examination she was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, was given i.v cef, p.o. Amoxiclav among other drugs for treatment and management, she responded well to medication and discharged on a stable condition. A follow up phone call confirmed that she is doing well

Severe pneumonia is a dangerous respiratory conditions that requires Immediate treatment. If left untreated it would have been resulted to complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, lung abscesses, and empyema.