Established in 2009 by WHO and UNICEF, World Pneumonia Day is held on 12 November every year to raise awareness of pneumonia, and advocate for global action to prevent, diagnose and treat pneumonia, one of the single, biggest yet underestimated infectious killers of adults and children alike. According to global statistics, around 2.5 million people, of which 672,000 were children and 1 million were people above 50 years have lost their lives in 2019, due to pneumonia. In 2021, the estimated burden of deaths from respiratory infections, including COVID-19, is a massive 6 million, with the most vulnerable victims being newborn babies, children under 6 years of age, and older adults [1]. Children below 5 years and elderly citizen are at a higher risk of catching the infection due to weak immunity and/or any other chronic illness [2].
The campaign of World Pneumonia Day 2022 is Stop Pneumonia/Every Breath Counts [3], indicated to appeal to the hospitals and healthcare sectors around the world to conduct seminars and campaigns to raise people’s awareness on this life-threatening disease and, if possible, offer free pneumonia diagnostic tests to prevent and control the prevailing infection. The pneumonia diagnostic test is advised for all people with symptoms including runny nose, fever, difficulty in breathing, tiredness, cough, etc.
Top 10 Q&A on Pneumonia
Still, there is no way to fight an enemy you don’t know much about. So here, we have concluded the 10 most asked questions regarding pneumonia and, hopefully, allow you to understand, prevent and treat pneumonia better.
- Why is pneumonia taken so seriously?
Not only is pneumonia one of the leading death causes across the world, targeting children and elderly adults in particular, but it also strikes quickly, with no prior warning at all. The infected patients may experience one or some combination of its symptoms, some of which are less specific in older adults, rendering them confused and clueless, and missing the time for proper pneumonia diagnostic tests.
- What is pneumonia caused by
Pneumonia is mostly caused by infection with viruses, bacteria or fungi, the most common ones of which are streptococcus pneumonia, haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), pneumococcus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and parainfluenza etc.
- Is pneumonia contagious?
Unfortunately, the answer is affirmative.
Pneumonia is an airborne and bloodborne disease, and it can be spread in several ways. A cough or sneeze carrying droplets with the virus may cause infection of the lungs if inhaled. Also, pneumonia may be spread through blood, especially during and shortly after birth.
- What are the risk factors of pneumonia?
Environment serves as another factor that contributes to susceptibility to pneumonia. Indoor air pollution or smoking in a crowded home, for instance, are two potential killers that lead children to pneumonia.
- What are the presenting symptoms of pneumonia?
The typical symptoms present in a person suffering from pneumonia are:
- Fatigue
- Fever and chills with sweating
- Lower body temperature in elderly adults (above 55)
- Cough (with phlegm)
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain during coughing
- Who are the most vulnerable victims of pneumonia?
Apart from children and elderly people, who either have compromised immune systems or chronic illness, those whose immune systems are weakened by malnutrition or undernourishment, such as infants who are not exclusively breastfed, are at a higher risk.
Also, if patients have pre-existing illnesses like symptomatic HIV infections and measles, they are more likely to fall victim to pneumonia.
- What to do if I suspect myself of infected with pneumonia?
Protect, prevent and treat are three lines of intervention proposed by the WHO and UNICEF GAPPD to control pneumonia. Other than protecting yourself with vaccination before infection, or getting proper treatment if you really catch it, the most important action between these two stages is to get a pneumonia diagnostic test if you suspect yourself infected. The sooner you get your pneumonia test result, the better effect the treatment will have.
A pneumonia test kit plays a critical role in running mycoplasma pneumoniae test. Represented by S3066E 6RP-Six Respiratory Pathogens Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Kit and S3016E MP – Mycoplasma Pneumoniae DNA Fluorescence Diagnostic Kit developed by Sansure Biotech Inc., these highly sensitive and accurate pneumonia diagnostic test kits can do so much more than merely determining if the patient is actually infected, but also help doctors make differential diagnosis, accurately detect the pathogens that cause symptoms, and formulate treatment plans.
- Is there any vaccination against pneumonia?
Two types of pneumococcal vaccines are currently recommended: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).
- Who and when to get vaccinated against pneumonia?
PCV13 is recommended for routine vaccination in children and adults over 65. Moreover, the patients aged 19 to 64 years with certain chronic health conditions (asthma or diabetes) are recommended to get vaccinated too.
- Is there any treatment for pneumonia?
Antibiotics like amoxicillin dispersible tablets are the first line treatments for pneumonia. Most light cases can first receive pneumonia diagnostic tested, diagnosed and treated with inexpensive oral antibiotics prescribed by trained community health workers at the community level, leaving hospitalization available for severe pneumonia cases only.
Get Prepared, and Stay Strong
Pneumonia is not a death sentence, as the survival rate can be significantly improved with early detection, effective diagnosis and proper treatment. But we have to prepare ourselves against pneumonia, physically, mentally and intellectually, so as to combat this tricky disease with caution and confidence.
As a renowned developer of a series of reagents and instruments, Sansure possesses top-of-the-line technologies, including in-vitro diagnostics, one-tube fast-release technology, advanced magnetic beads technology, etc. Now, responding to the call of the WHO, Sansure has always been ready to offer a variety of pneumonia diagnostic test kits, among other solutions to combat pneumonia to the very last moment.
Contact Sansure for more information at sansureglobal.com, and stay strong together!
Reference:
[1] World Pneumonia Day
[2] Pneumonia in children
[3] A Pneumonia Crisis across the Life Course
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