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Every breath counts—treating pneumonia effectively to build a healthier world

Did you know that a child dies of pneumonia in the time it took you to open and start reading this post? Yes, you read that right. According to data from UNICEF, pneumonia claims a life every 43 seconds—making it one of the most fatal diseases to affect young children and infants. In fact, pneumonia causes higher mortality rates than any other infectious disease, claiming over 800,000 lives of children under five annually—around 2,000 preventable deaths every day. However, pneumonia does not just affect children—the elderly are equally at risk, with over 1.8 million adults dying from it each year. 

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that inflames the air sacs in our lungs. The air sacs fill with fluid due to the infection—causing fluid buildup, fever, chills, and respiratory distress. Pneumonia can affect individuals of all ages but is most serious for those under five and over 65. The infection ranges from mild to life-threatening and primarily impacts those with health problems or weakened immune systems.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia?

Pneumonia's symptoms vary from mild to severe depending on the infection's cause and the infected individual's overall health. Mild pneumonia has flu-like symptoms, but these symptoms last much longer. Common signs and symptoms of pneumonia include:

  • Cough with phlegm

  • Chest pain during coughing

  • Fever, chills

  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

  • Shortness of breath or respiratory distress

In addition to those listed above, symptoms of pneumonia specific to those older than 65 include:

  • Confusion or mental distress

  • Low body temperature

  • Fatigue 

Infants or newborns might show no signs of infection but may vomit, have a cough, seem listless, and may not want to feed.

Who can get pneumonia?

Although Pneumonia primarily affects young children under five and those with a weakened immune system, any of the following age groups are at risk:

  • Infants and children under five years

  • Elderly over 65

  • Those receiving chemotherapy

  • Individuals with co-morbidities such as heart disease or diabetes

  • Those on immunosuppressants

  • Individuals with limited mobility due to physical disabilities

When should you see a doctor?

If you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, high (102F or more) fever and persistent cough—do not delay calling your doctor or visiting the emergency department of a nearby hospital. Those under 2 or 65+ years, those with a weakened immune system or on immunosuppressants must contact a doctor immediately. 

Remember—pneumonia can quickly go from a bad cough to a life-threatening condition if left untreated. 

Is pneumonia preventable?

Absolutely. A lot of work is being done by governments and organisations worldwide to prevent and treat pneumonia in individuals of all ages. Some basic methods to prevent pneumonia include:

  • Get vaccinated

Vaccination offers the best protection against pneumonia. Ensure that all children under the age of 5 receive all doses of the following vaccines:

  • pneumococcal

  • influenza

  • Haemophilus influenzae 

  • pertussis

  • measles

  • varicella

Although pneumonia can still impact vaccinated children, it does so in a milder form resembling the common cold. 

  • Monitor your health

See a doctor if you have any worrying pneumonia-like symptoms—especially if you are at risk due to co-morbidities. Contact your doctor immediately if you've recently been sick and have new or worsening symptoms. 

  • Practice good hygiene

Wash your hands often, especially after using the bathroom, eating, or touching your hands, face, and mouth. If soap is unavailable, use hand sanitiser.  

  • Lead a healthy lifestyle

Leading a healthier lifestyle can help you prevent several diseases. Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, exercising regularly, and eating a well-balanced diet can help keep diseases—and pneumonia at bay.

Why is pneumonia still a global health concern?

Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi—with bacterial infections taking the top spot for causing the most severe forms of the disease. As antibiotics are the first line of treatment, antibiotic resistance is growing amongst bacteria that cause pneumonia and may not be able to prevent the disease as effectively as needed. 

Additionally, hospital-acquired pneumonia cases—including those caused by ventilator or oxygen therapy use- are harder to treat. These and other causes, such as inadequate vaccination, air pollution, malnourishment, and lack of information, make the pneumonia battle harder to fight than you believe. 

How can Sanrai help?

Sanrai's 5-point solution can help address many problems emerging nations and developed countries face in their fight against pneumonia. Here's how:

  1. Using innovative and disruptive AI-driven technologies to facilitate timely screening

A disease diagnosed in time has a lower risk of developing into a more severe form than when it is undiagnosed. If pneumonia is diagnosed early with AI-driven solutions such as ResApp, it can save thousands of lives where diagnostic equipment or qualified medical professionals are hard to find.

  1. Providing accurate diagnostics for patients

Knowledge is power. You can only defeat or treat a disease that you understand. With solutions such as ResApp, individuals can quickly diagnose their respiratory condition or of infants and the elderly using cough sounds—making the decision to contact emergency services or medical professionals easy for anyone.

  1. Best-in-class device-based therapeutic solutions

Oxygen therapy or non-invasive ventilation is often required when treating pneumonia patients. Sanrai's wide range of respiratory care products can help pneumonia patients everywhere test themselves, get treated in time and get better faster with the best solutions the world has to offer.

  1. Better outcome management for patients

With Sanrai's world-class products and services, patients have a higher chance of fighting and managing pneumonia and other respiratory conditions.

  1. World-class, 24/7 support

Outdated or dysfunctional equipment can cause innumerable problems for patients. Sanrai ensures that your diagnostic tools and patient care equipment stay fit, helping your patients get better faster than ever!

Final thoughts

The world is still fighting the pneumonia battle, even after the advent of pneumococcal vaccines and modern treatment methods. Our changing interactions with the microbial world are a part of this ever-growing problem. However, the world can still defeat this disease with consistent global efforts and by using preventive methods at the individual and institutional levels. Remember—the first step is all it takes to change the world for the better! Take care and join the fight to reduce pneumonia among you and those around you.

Also Read- Tips to Improve Your Lung Health

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