Dr. Evangelina Soler, former president of the Dominican Pulmonary Society, called on people to vaccinate infants, pregnant women, people over 60 years old and people with chronic diseases to avoid death from pneumonia.
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children globally, killing 740,180 children under the age of 5 in 2019, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but it also affects the entire family.
Regarding Sunday being World Pneumonia Day, experts explain the causes of the disease that affects the lung parenchyma.
“The causes are usually viruses, bacterial processes, fungi, but also chemical substances such as household irritants, such as chlorine in combination with hydrochloric acid, and other substances that can irritate the lung parenchyma,” he stressed. Eliminating viruses circulating in the country , such as influenza B and A, adenovirus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and Covid-19.
“Pathogens may be associated with epidemic outbreaks such as viral processes, Covid 19, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, adenovirus and seasonally associated viruses such as increases in influenza that occur in summer or winter” Therefore, it is important to be vaccinated easily Infectious groups, infants and young children, elderly people over 60 years old, and people with debilitating diseases such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, chronic hepatitis, asthma, and central nervous system diseases.
He said that this disease tends to occur very frequently and is a cause of death in children and people over the age of 60, so it is very important to vaccinate pregnant women, infants and the elderly against influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.
it travels through different paths
The World Health Organization says pneumonia can be spread in many ways, such as from viruses and bacteria commonly found in children’s noses or throats, which can infect the lungs when inhaled. They can also spread through airborne droplets produced when coughing or sneezing. In addition, pneumonia can be spread through blood, especially during childbirth and soon after delivery.
Among the symptoms of viral pneumonia, children under 5 years old develop cough and difficulty breathing, which may or may not be accompanied by fever. Immunocompromised children are at higher risk of contracting pneumonia, the report said.