Writing/Quadratín Mexico
MEXICO CITY, November 12, 2022.- The Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) has reported that it will implement nearly 800,000 vaccines in more than 1,500 family medicine units (UMF) across the country this winter season to prevent the disease from pneumonia in vulnerable groups.
As part of World Pneumonia Day, which is commemorated this November 12, Social Security specified that it is estimated to apply 615,000 doses to children under the age of 2 and 185,000 to the elderly.
Since 2009, this day is commemorated as an initiative of the World Coalition against Childhood Pneumonia and its purpose is to raise awareness of the public health problem it represents, it also seeks to expand information on this disease to prevent it and save lives.
Pneumonia is a type of acute respiratory infection characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue and is transmitted through the air by secretions from the nose, throat or bronchi that a person carrying the virus, bacteria or fungus that causes it vomits .
The main symptoms of pneumonia are: increased respiratory rate (more than 25 breaths per minute); shortness of breath, temperature above 37.8 degrees Celsius; body aches and headaches, mucus production in the lungs, cough and night sweats.
The risk of suffering from this disease increases in smokers, as the susceptibility to bacterial lung infections increases, even in passive smokers. The environment, lifestyle habits such as poor diet and alcohol abuse as well as a deficient immune system are other factors that cause this condition.
At the Mexican Social Security Institute, pneumonia is treated with a wide range of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals, depending on the type of infection. However, general measures of nutrition, rest, and alertness are an important part of a patient’s recovery.
In 2021, the IMSS granted 134,430 visits for pneumonia, of which 66,622 for family medicine; 6 thousand 486 specialist visits and 61 thousand 322 emergencies.
