Late treatment of pneumonia can lead to death

The late seeking of medical assistance by persons who suffer from pneumonia represents the greatest risk factor that leads to death. Over 19,000 cases of pneumonia in children and more than 16,000 cases of pneumonia in grownups were recorded in Moldova in 2011, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to a communiqué from the Institute of Phthisiopneumology “Chiril Draganiuc”, the death rate due to pneumonia in children is 9.2 to 100 000, while in adults 21.3 to 100 000. The World Pneumonia Day will be marked in Moldova on November 12. This year’s slogan is “Fight Pneumonia. Save a child”. It aims to increase awareness and promote the prophylaxis of this disease. Most of the healthy children can fight the infection through body protection mechanisms, but the children with weak immunity are exposed to higher risks of developing pneumonia. The child’s predisposition to pneumonia increases under the influence of such factors as polluted air inside houses, preparation of food and utilization of biofuel in rooms, living in overcrowded places, or the parents’ tabagism. In order to prevent pneumonia in children, they should be immunized against pneumococcal infection, measles and convulsive cough. For the children to have stronger immunity, they should enjoy appropriate nutrition, while the infants should be breastfed. Specialists say that pneumonia is the main cause of child mortality worldwide. Though it is a disease that can be prevented by immunization and correct feeding, about 1.4 million children younger than five die from pneumonia annually.