The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that pneumonia kills a child every 43 seconds around the world, noting that almost all of these deaths can be prevented.
The organization revealed, in conjunction with World Disease Day, which falls on November 12 of each year, that pneumonia is the largest infectious disease that kills children around the world, as it leads to the death of more than 725,000 children under the age of five, including… That’s about 190,000 newborns.
Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs, and its causes are multiple, including bacteria, viruses, and aerobic fungi. Its most common symptoms include cough, difficulty breathing, fever, and rapid breathing.
It is necessary to consult a doctor if the child has a cough (Public Domain)
Pneumonia is a contagious disease, and it can spread through airborne particles (coughing or sneezing), and it can also spread through other fluids, such as blood during childbirth, or from contaminated surfaces, according to the organization.
For his part, Dr. Taha Abdel Hamid, professor of chest diseases and allergies at the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Azhar University, said that what makes pneumonia the largest infectious disease that kills children is that once a child is infected with it, the alveoli in the lungs are filled with fluids and inflammatory cells that significantly impede the breathing process. Natural.
He added to Asharq Al-Awsat that “the disease can cause respiratory failure that leads to suffocation and death, and pneumonia can cause blood poisoning and heart failure, and can also lead to clots in the brain, if the bacteria spread to the brain.” Depending on the type and severity of the germ causing the disease.
air pollution
According to the organization, air pollution can significantly increase the risk of respiratory infections, including pneumonia, as nearly half of deaths caused by pneumonia are attributable to air pollution.
Outdoor air pollution poses a danger to children, especially in light of increasing urbanization in countries with the highest burden of pneumonia, but indoor air pollution, resulting from unclean fuels used for cooking and heating, also poses a global threat.
Methods of prevention and treatment
Treatment of pneumonia depends on its type. In developing countries, the type of pneumonia caused by bacteria predominates and can be treated with cheap antibiotics. However, a third of children who suffer from pneumonia are unable to obtain medication due to their lack of an effective health system, according to UNICEF. .
Cough and difficulty breathing are the most common symptoms of pneumonia (Public Domain)
The disease can be prevented by increasing protective measures, such as adequate nutrition, reducing risk factors such as air pollution that makes the lungs more susceptible to infection, and following good hygiene practices.
The organization indicated that pneumonia caused by bacteria can be easily prevented through vaccines. However, 40 percent of children worldwide are not fully protected by the primary vaccine to prevent pneumonia, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).
In addition, Abdel Hamid advised against kissing children, especially newborns, and the need to consult a doctor immediately if the child develops a cough, high temperature, and irregular breathing, in order to obtain the necessary treatment, before the symptoms worsen.
2023-11-13 13:27:09
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