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What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. It occurs when the air sacs (alveoli) fill with pus and fluid rather than air, causing painful breathing and reduced oxygen intake.
What are the symptoms of Pneumonia?
Fever, sweating and shaking chills, lower than normal body temperature in people older than age 65 and those with weakened immune systems, cough producing thick fluid, chest pain during breathing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache.
What is the global scenario like?
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children worldwide. Pneumonia kills an estimated 1.1 million children under the age of five years every year, more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
What is Pneumonia's status in Pakistan?
Pakistan faces a significant burden of pneumonia, which remains the leading killer of children under five. An estimated 4% annual acute respiratory infection incidence in under-five children translates to approximately 15 million episodes every year in this age group.
How do you prevent Pneumonia?
Prevention relies on immunization against Hib, pneumococcus, measles, and pertussis. The pneumococcal vaccine requires three doses at 6, 10, and 14 weeks, with a fourth dose at 15 months.
Vaccine at a glance
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
- 3 doses at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age
- Booster dose at 15 months of age
- Given free of charge through EPI Sindh