New Delhi: World Pneumonia Day, November 12, is a yearly reminder that pneumonia can strike anywhere and anytime, and is a serious, potentially life-threatening lung infection. Pneumonia is primarily caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi that are transmitted from one person to another.
Pneumonia is a severe respiratory illness that affects the lungs and aggravates the lungs’ air sacs. This occurs when the lungs get clogged with liquid or discharge, leading to shortness of breath.
This day was founded in 2009 to educate people about Pneumonia. World Pneumonia Day has a different theme each year and the focus this year is on “Championing the fight against pneumonia.” Despite being a condition that may be prevented and treated, Pneumonia is one of the top causes of death among 15% of children under the age of five, according to UNICEF.
What are the symptoms?
The initial signs of pneumonia may resemble cold or flu symptoms. After that, a person might experience further symptoms, which would depend on the kind of pneumonia they are experiencing. Typical symptoms experienced by a person suffering from Pneumonia include a cough that could result in phlegm, rapid breathing and breathlessness, sweating and chills, along with chest pain that typically gets worse when inhaling deeply. The person may also experience extreme nausea and dizziness.
What are the causes?
Bacteria, Viruses, Various chemicals, Mycoplasma and other infectious agents, such as fungi including pneumocystis are the five main causes of pneumonia. In terms of treatment, antibiotics should be administered to patients suffering from pneumonia.
What is the treatment?
After consultation, most pneumonia infections call for oral antibiotics. Hospitalisation is advised only in very severe cases.
What is pneumococcal pneumonia?
It is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia. If you are 65 or older, your risk of being hospitalised after getting pneumococcal pneumonia is 13 times greater than younger adults aged 18 to 49, and for those requiring hospitalisation, an average hospital stay of six days. And in severe cases, it can lead to death. Symptoms typically have an abrupt onset and may include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain, high fever, excessive sweating and shaking chills and coughing. Certain symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia including cough and fatigue and may last for weeks, or longer, according to the American Lung Association.
