Every year on the 12th of November people all around the globe celebrate Pneumonia Day with the purpose of increasing the public awareness of this disease which remains as the most deadly infection in adults and children and also to encourage the work of various organizations in the sphere to decrease the cases of the respiratory diseases mostly in the low and middle-income countries.
Pneumonia refers to an inflammation of the respiratory system brought about by pathogens, which affects the lungs. It interferes with breathing as the air sacs are filled with pus or fluids in this condition.
Flu can be passed from one person to another easily and in some cases can result in severe complications which specifically in children and the elderly.
History of World Pneumonia Day (WPD)
Stop Pneumonia Campaign
- The Stop Pneumonia Campaign by the Global Collaboration Against Child Pneumonia was started in 2009 aiming to reduce child mortality resulting from respiratory infections.
- The campaign was supported globally and has contributed greatly to favorable policies especially for emerging nations where children suffer from airborne diseases and malnutrition.
- The first annual celebration was held on November 12, 2009, after the UN General Assembly had passed a resolution for its formation.
Every Breath Counts Coalition
- The Every Breath Counts Coalition which started off in 2017 consists of different member organizations with the principle of shrinking the respiratory diseases’ burden in low- and middle-income countries.
- To be able to draw the attention of the governments, ministries of health, school administrators and teachers and change the existing healthcare scenario, governments are joining hands with UN agencies such as World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, International Non-Governmental Organizations, etc.
- This could prevent deadly pneumonia in developing nations, where alone hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved yearly if diagnosis and treatment were promptly made.
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an acute infectious disease that spreads rapidly through small droplets from a person through the respiratory system via coughing and sneezing as well as likelihood transferred through blood after childbirth.
This is an infection with bacteria, viruses, as well as fungi that may cause pus formation and inflammation to the lungs.
It also triggers respiratory viruses such as rhinoviruses (the common cold), the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza (flu, which contains features of pneumonia).
The groups most affected include those that have a compromised immunity. Inhalation of spores from soil or bird dung is also known to lead to pneumonia through the contracting of fungal diseases.
How is pneumonia caused?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that is closely associated with pneumonia. Other pathogens that are also said to be responsible for infections include Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae among others.
It is also critical to note that pneumonia could be caused by fungi. Pathogenic fungi include, Cryptococcus, Histoplasmosis and Pneumocystis carinii or Pneumocystis jirovecii
One must mention that viral pneumonia is known to be less severe and lasts one to three weeks without treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?
- Pain in the chest during breathing or coughing.
- Fatigue
- Fever, sweating, and shaking chills
- Fast breathing and shortness of breath
- Coughing green phlegm or sputum.
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Cases of some kind of confusion have also been seen in older adults.
- Nausea or vomiting
Pneumonia: Treatment and Vaccination
It is without a doubt that pneumonia is preventable, and by getting vaccinated on schedule, one is protected against the disease.
In India, the following vaccines offer protection against pneumonia:In India, the following vaccines offer protection against pneumonia:
- Pcv (Prevention of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination)
- Vaccinations against measles
- The HIB vaccination
The PCV and Hib vaccinations can be utilized in treatment of infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus.
One effective way of treating the communicable disease resulting from measles is through measles vaccination.
How can pneumonia be prevented?
Other than immunization, there are three ways to combat pneumonia:
- Six months of exclusive nursing for children.
- A balanced diet with added zinc and vitamin A.
- Maintaining hygienic conditions.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you avoid not just pneumonia but also other illnesses.
Facts about Pneumonia & World Pneumonia Day (WPD)
- The incidence of mortality in children due to pneumonia and other respiratory infectious diseases has recently skyrocketed even when the treatment is supposedly available.
- Specifically, 25,28,179 people died from pneumonia in 2019, and 7,003 children per day died from the disease across the world.
- In addition, the unmatched COVID pandemic now has raised the deaths of respiratory infectious diseases to 6 lakhs in 2021, which is one of the severe respiratory crises that exposes a huge population to diseases resulting in deaths.
- The world health organization indicates that around 14 lakh children who are below five years old die from pneumonia each year which translates to 18% of the children’s deaths in the world.
- UNICEF has reported that a child succumbs to pneumonia every 39 seconds so the urgency of the solution cannot be underestimated.
- A 65-year-old with COPD is normal at 7. A systematic review by Peter et al reported that, patients with COPD had a 7 fold increased risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia compared to a normal healthy individual and an asthmatic stands 5. 9-fold increased risk.
- Excluding communicable diseases, smoking and air pollution claim 16 lakh deaths due to pneumonia each year among those aged above 50 years.
- Every Breath Counts Coalition is the world’s first coalition for public and private partnership with the mission to help national governments to save the lives of children who died from pneumonia, by 2030, at least based on some sources.
- According to the WHO & UNICEF Integrated Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhea in the year 2013–2025, it aims to reduce the Child Mortality rate due to Pneumonia to < 3/1000 by Year 2025.