World Pneumonia Day 2020
By: Stem Response Wlv
Tags: Microbiology, Pneumonia, Science, STEM, World Pneumonia Day

12th November is World Pneumonia Day, established by the World Health organisation in 2009. The purpose of this globally recognised day of awareness is to not only to improve general knowledge of this deadly disease, but to also encourage interventions designed to prevent, protect against, and treat pneumonia.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a debilitating illness that affects the lungs. According to the NHS website:

“Pneumonia is swelling (inflammation) of the tissue in one or both lungs. It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection. It can also be caused by a virus, such as coronavirus (COVID-19).”

This infection causes the air sacs inside the lungs (called alveoli) to become inflamed and fill up with pus or other fluid. This can therefore make it difficult for oxygen to get into the bloodstream.

Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all cause Pneumonia, however the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common microbe to infect the lungs and potentially cause Pneumonia, especially in children.

Pneumonia is characterised by several respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath; chest pains; rapid/shallow breathing; and a cough.

Pneumonia — causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology. Courtesy of Osmosis, 2017.

Who’s At Risk?

This disease can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender, anywhere in the world. However, deaths are more common amongst the immunocompromised, elderly, and young children — with almost a third of all victims of Pneumonia globally in 2019 being 5 years old or younger.

A person can become immunocompromised in a variety of ways. This can include chronic illnesses that a person is born with, such as asthma or Crohn’s disease; developed diseases like cancer and leukemia; and infections such as HIV/AIDS. If a person suffers from anything like the conditions listed above, they are susceptible when it comes to contracting Pneumonia, and are more at risk of dying. People on bed rest are also more likely to contract Pneumonia, including patients who have recently had surgery, which is called post-operative Pneumonia.

What is Treatment and Recovery Like?

Usually, most cases of Pneumonia in the UK are relatively mild. Self care is usually recommended, which includes rest, taking paracetamol, and drinking plenty of fluids. Sometimes, if a bacterial infection is suspected, antibiotics may be prescribed to assist in recovery.

Severe cases of Pneumonia may require a stay in hospital, which can include stronger antibiotics (if it’s caused by bacteria) and IV fluids to maintain hydration. Typically, mild Pneumonia clears up within a couple of weeks, but in severe cases, it can take up to 6 months for symptoms to fully clear up.

Viral cases of Pneumonia (such as the COVID19 infection) cannot be treated with antibiotics, as this type of medication is only useful against bacteria.

Can Pneumonia Be Prevented?

Measures can be taken to prevent contracting Pneumonia, such as basic hygiene. Hand washing is an essential step in preventing disease transmission, including Pneumonia. This is why infection and death rates are higher in countries where hygiene education isn’t as commonly taught as it is here in the UK. For example, 99% of Pneumonia deaths in children under 5 years old occurred in low or middle-income countries.

There is also a Pneumonia vaccination, which is given in the UK to babies. For those born after 1st January 2020, it comes in the form of two injections, with the first dose given at 12 weeks of age, and the second around their first birthday. Elderly people and adults with specific chronic illnesses may be offered this vaccination depending on their underlying health issues.

To learn more about World Pneumonia Day 2020, you can visit both the World Health Organisation and Stop Pneumonia Organisation websites.

By Phoebe Hinton-Sheley