Overview:
Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation of alveoli in one or both lungs. Alveoli may be filled with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever or chills, and difficulty breathing. A variety of organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi can cause pneumonia.
Air pollution is the main risk factor for death due to pneumonia in all age groups. Almost a third of deaths by pneumonia were attributed to air pollution, resulting in around 749,200 deaths in 2019. Home air pollution contributed to 423,000 deaths, while outdoor air pollution contributed to 326,000.
Objectives:
- Awareness on the importance of clean air all over the world, because every breath counts.
- Awareness of ways to prevent pneumonia.
Facts:
- Pneumonia is the leading infectious disease killer of adults and children - killing 2.5 million people, including 672,000 children, in 2019.
- COVID-19 deaths add millions of deaths in 2020, bringing the total to more than four million. No other infection causes so many deaths.
- You must be vaccinated. Vaccinations are available to prevent some types of pneumonia and influenza. Talk to your doctor on ways to get these doses. Be sure to check your vaccination status with your doctor even if you remember getting the pneumonia vaccine since vaccination guidelines have changed over time.
- Make sure children are vaccinated. Doctors recommend a different pneumonia vaccination in children younger than 2 years of age (2), and in children ages 2 to 5 who are particularly susceptible to pneumococcal disease. Children who go to a group child care center should also be vaccinated. Doctors also recommend flu shots for babies older than 6 months.
- Follow good hygiene habits. To protect yourself from the respiratory infection that often leads to pneumonia, wash your hands regularly or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Quit smoking. Smoking destroys natural defenses of lungs against respiratory infections.
- Keep your immune system strong, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet.
Official Date:
Globally: November 12th, 2023
Locally: Rabi' al-Thani 28th, 1445H