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Pneumonia is a type of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. It can be prevented by vaccination, proper nutrition and control of environmental factors. Despite this, pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children under five worldwide.
According to the Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumonia (a group of conditions caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus) is the leading single cause of infant mortality.
According to the International Health Agency, this pathology is responsible for 18% of the total number of deaths of children under five years old. Pneumonia affects children and their families, but its prevalence is highest in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
And, according to the WHO, the immune system of children under five is not fully developed and therefore can not defend itself quickly against infections. As a result, this bacterium is responsible for a million deaths in children under five. Similarly, it is estimated that in Latin America there are between 980,000 and 1,500,000 annual cases and 28,000 deaths per year in the region.
Symptoms of pneumonia. The symptoms of viral pneumonia and those caused by the bacteria are similar, although those of viral pneumonia may be more numerous than those of the bacterium. Among them, fast or difficult breathing, cough, fever, chills, loss of appetite, wheezing (more common in viral infections).
In severe pneumonia, children may have subcostal retractions (depression or retraction of the lower chest during inspiration). In infants, pneumonia may result in an inability to consume food or fluids, as well as a loss of consciousness, hypothermia, and seizures.
Risk factors and prevention. Most healthy children can fight infection through their natural defenses, but immunocompromised children have an increased risk of pneumonia. Malnutrition or malnutrition can weaken the immune system of the child, especially in infants who are not exclusively breastfed.
The earlier presence of diseases such as measles or asymptomatic HIV infections also increases the risk that a child will contract pneumonia.
The following environmental factors also increase children's vulnerability to pneumonia: indoor air pollution due to the use of biomass (such as firewood or excrement), fuel for cooking or heating the house, dwelling in overcrowded homes and smoking. parents.
Regarding the fact that this Monday, November 12 is World Pneumonia Day, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, for its acronym in English (UNICEF), has issued a report focusing on the importance of treatment. prepared by Dr. Hayalnesh Tarekegn.
This research explains that pneumonia is associated with fever, cough or strange breathing. Also with the elderly and children from 0 to 5 years old.
UNICEF says that if it's a dangerous disease, it may be faced with adequate resources. "An X-ray or an analysis can detect it and an antibiotic can paralyze it," the document explains.
Dr. Hayalnesh confirms these perceptions: "If we act quickly and are certain to cope with pneumonia, we can save many lives." In fact, the data indicate that a correct treatment reduces infant mortality by 42%.
"At UNICEF, we know that arriving at the time is crucial – that is, if we could identify the symptoms accurately and briefly and give the appropriate medication, we could reduce Half the number of more than 2,400 lives that each disease suffers each day.Because 24 hours can be crucial for many children.Because this reality is perhaps distant, but it is the one that will suffer today and in a year more than 800 000 children ".
Pneumonia Day: Let's finish it. Although the disease can be dangerous for children and adults, vaccines can reduce the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia because of the positive effect of this drug.
In this sense, Dr. Jorge LaRotta, medical officer of Pfizer Vaccines for the Caribbean region, emphasized that vaccination is one of the most cost-effective health interventions and the best way to protect against this disease. It is estimated that between 2011 and 2020, vaccination against pneumococcal disease in children will prevent 21 million cases and save 1.5 million lives in the 73 poorest countries in the world.
The impact of vaccination
Vaccination as a preventive measure becomes more important considering that not all infections caused by this disease can be easily treated with antibiotics. "Even with early management, pneumococcal bacteria can withstand treatments such as penicillin, which means that in some cases the treatment will be more difficult and expensive," says Dr. Jorge LaRotta. Prevention can help reduce the number of hospitalizations related to all causes of pneumonia.
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