The objective of World Pneumonia Day is to create awareness about the severity of this disease and encourage actions for its prevention and treatment. For this reason, it is commemorated every November 12.
Pneumonia is a respiratory infection acute that affects mainly to children under five years of age and adults over 65 years of age. However, it can occur at any age.
According to health survey indices, it is the leading single cause of infant mortality throughout the world, so special attention should be paid to children.
In 2019, it caused the death of 740,180 children under 5 years of agewhich means 14% of all deaths of children under 5 that age worldwide and 22% of all deaths in children aged 1 to 5 years.
In Argentinaaccording to the National Epidemiological Bulletinbetween weeks 1 and 31 of 2024, 98,654 cases of pneumoniawith a cumulative incidence of 209.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
How can pneumonia occur?
Pneumonia can be caused by a significant variety of infectious agentsviruses, bacteria and fungi, and the most common are streptococcus pneumoniaethe most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in children and adults.
It is also frequently detected Respiratory Syncytial Virusor RSV, which is the most common cause of viral pneumonia.
Both types have similar manifestations, and can vary depending on age. In children under 5 years that present cough and/or difficulty breathingwith or without fever, the diagnosis of pneumonia is based on the observation of rapid breathing or subcostal indrawing, which is the depression or retraction of the lower chest when inhaling.
For its part, in infantscan be presented through the refusal to feed, altered state of consciousness, hypothermia, apneas or seizures.
“Pneumonia is an acute infection that affects the lungs. Today we have effective tools to prevent some types of pneumonia. Timely and appropriate treatment can also avoid hospitalizations and save lives”he stated Virginia Verdaguermedical director of MSD Argentina.
Early diagnosis and prevention
In both children and adults, Early diagnosis is key to effective treatment. In most cases of pneumonia, oral antibioticswhich are prescribed by doctors and Hospitalization is only suggested in serious situations.
On the other hand, Prevention of this disease occurs through vaccinationbut it is also essential to have adequate nutrition, starting with breastfeeding during the first six months of life, and to improve environmental factors.
He Ministry of Healthin his National Vaccination Calendar 2024 includes important strategies to prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcus and establishes the pediatric vaccination that is administered in three doses: at 2, 4 and 12 months of life.
On the other hand, it also contemplates the vaccination for people from 5 to 64 years old with conditions of immunocompromised or chronic diseases, as well as for people aged 65 and over.
Source: Ambito
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