Over the years, technology has made important advances. Within the field of health, it has allowed the development of novel treatments that allow an improvement in people’s quality of life. Although the truth is that Some diseases such as pneumonia remain highly dangerous and this is seen with the high number of deaths that are recorded each year.
Just to keep in mind, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that this infection is responsible for 15 percent of all deaths of children under five years of age on the planet. With this in mind, in 2015 it caused the death of 920 thousand children. If adults are also added then It is responsible for 1.3 million deaths each year.
For its part, one of the most alarming points is that Most deaths from pneumonia can be prevented. The main options are immunization, adequate nutrition and control of environmental factors. And once it develops it is possible to treat patients with antibiotics. The problem is that only one in three children with this disease receives the treatment they need. Therefore, the others are exposed and their healing is more complicated.
What is pneumonia?
The WHO describes it as a type of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. In turn, they are formed by alveoli that fill with air when breathing in healthy people. On the other hand, sick people have pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen absorption.
Causes
Although minors are a vulnerable group, in reality anyone is exposed to pneumonia. Recent studies have shown that tobacco increases susceptibility to bacterial lung infection, even in passive smokers. This effect also shows a dose-response, since the risk dramatically decreases 10 years after giving up smoking, reaching non-smoking levels.
Various infectious agents—viruses, bacteria, and fungi—cause pneumonia. The most common are the following:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae: the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in children.
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia.
- Respiratory syncytial virus is the most common cause of viral pneumonia.
- Pneumocystis jiroveci is an important cause of pneumonia in children under six months of age with HIV/AIDS, responsible for at least one in four deaths in HIV-positive infants.
Transmission
Pneumonia can spread in various ways. Viruses and bacteria commonly present in the nose or throat of children can infect the lungs when inhaled. They can also spread through the air, in droplets produced when coughing or sneezing. Additionally, pneumonia can spread through the blood, especially during childbirth and in the immediate aftermath. More research is needed on the various pathogens that cause pneumonia and their modes of transmission, as this information is essential for the treatment and prevention of the disease.
Now, although it may be thought that poor countries are the most affected, in reality this is not the case. Deaths from pneumonia occur throughout the planet and that is why it is a global public health problem. A study carried out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) identified that Japan is the most affected nation, registering just over 94 thousand deaths in 2020.
While the United States appears in second position with just over 49 thousand fatalities. In the following positions are Turkey and South Korea as a sign that it is a disease with a global presence.
While Mexico appears in fifth place with 20,970 deaths from pneumonia registered in 2020. Then there are Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and Colombia.