Where are the most children dying from pneumonia? A new vaccine for one of the main viral causes of pneumonia is under development. However, in 2018, 71 million children did not receive the recommended three doses of the primary vaccine to prevent pneumonia (PCV). Pneumonia caused by bacteria is easily preventable with vaccines. Studies show that improved handwashing with soap reduces the risk of pneumonia by up to 50% Studies have shown that improved handwashing with soap reduces the risk of pneumonia by up to 50 per cent by lowering exposure to bacteria. Pneumonia can be prevented in the first place by increasing protective measures, such as adequate nutrition, and by reducing risk factors like air pollution (which makes the lungs more vulnerable to infection) and using good hygiene practices. However, in many countries without strong health systems oxygen is only available at higher level health facilities and hospitals. Tuberculosis in particular often remains un-diagnosed.Ĭhildren with severe pneumonia often require oxygen because the inflammation of their lungs prevents enough oxygen from entering the bloodstream. those causing tuberculosis) requiring other treatments.
Other causes of pneumonia are viruses or mycobacteria (e.g. Yet only one third of children with pneumonia receive the antibiotics they need because they lack access to quality health care. In developing countries, a large number of pneumonia cases is caused by bacteria and can be treated with low cost antibiotics. The treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia. The number of breaths for ‘fast breathing’ depends on the child’s age – younger children normally have higher rates of breathing than older children.
For instance, a 5 month old child who takes 50 breaths per minute would be breathing too fast, and could have pneumonia. few doctors, lack of access to chest x-rays and laboratories), health workers often rely on diagnosing pneumonia by counting the number of breaths the child takes per minute. In countries without strong health care systems (i.e. Sometimes they may use chest x-rays or blood tests for diagnosis. Health workers can diagnose pneumonia through a physical exam, including checking for abnormal breathing patterns and listening to the child’s lungs. It can also be spread through other fluids, like blood during childbirth, or from contaminated surfaces. Pneumonia is contagious and can be spread through airborne particles (a cough or sneeze). Children with pneumonia usually experience fast breathing, or their lower chest may draw in or retract when they inhale (in a healthy person, the chest expands during inhalation).
newborns) or weakened – such as by undernourishment, or diseases like HIV – are more vulnerable to pneumonia.Īs pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, the most common symptoms are coughing, trouble breathing and fever. Children whose immune systems are immature (i.e. When a child is infected, his lungs are filled with fluid and it becomes difficult to breathe. It doesn’t have one single cause – it can develop from either bacteria, viruses or fungi in the air. Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection of the lungs. Almost all of these deaths are preventable
That means a child dies from pneumonia every 39 seconds and almost all of these deaths are preventable.Ī child dies from pneumonia every 39 seconds. It claims the lives of over 800,000 children under five every year, including over 153,000 newborns, who are particularly vulnerable to infection. Many people associate pneumonia with the elderly, but it is actually the biggest infectious killer of children worldwide.