Physician for public well being, dr. Rahmat Odesesan, says that pneumonia shouldn’t be brought on by a chilly, opposite to the widespread perception of many individuals.
Well being situation, stated dr. Odessan, it was brought on by an an infection.
Odesesan, who’s the Medical Officer of Well being, Ikorodu Native Authorities Space of Lagos State, urged mother and father to keep away from exposing their kids to any type of smoke, stating that varied organisms together with micro organism, viruses and fungi could cause pneumonia.
Talking in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, the physician stated mother and father ought to cease practices that might put their kids liable to pneumonia, corresponding to cooking with stoves indoors and poor hygiene practices.
The World Well being Group says that pneumonia is a type of acute respiratory an infection that’s most frequently brought on by viruses or micro organism.
In keeping with the worldwide well being physique, vaccine-preventable pneumonia could cause delicate to life-threatening sickness in individuals of all ages.
It states that pneumonia is the only largest infectious explanation for dying in kids worldwide.
Odesesan famous that pneumonia is among the greatest killers of youngsters below the age of 5, however that it may be prevented with good vitamin and hygiene practices.
The physician defined: “Smoke impacts the immune system and places an individual liable to pneumonia and different infections that have an effect on the lungs.
Pneumonia is airborne and as soon as it impacts the lungs, they will be unable to operate correctly.
“Any type of smoke needs to be averted within the room. Something that emits smoke needs to be utilized in a well-ventilated space.
“Folks ought to keep away from cooking with stoves and firewood indoors to keep away from exposing kids to pneumonia.”
In keeping with her, individuals shouldn’t use stoves indoors.
“They need to prepare dinner exterior the place there could be good air flow.” Don’t pollute the air within the room. Utilizing a range in a room will trigger the air within the room to change into concentrated. And it’s harmful for the lungs both for the kid or for the mom.
“Prepare dinner the place there’s air flow. The room is packed. Due to this fact, any type of cooking needs to be finished exterior,” she stated.
Persevering with, the physician stated that pneumonia had nothing to do with a chilly.
She famous, “Some individuals assume pneumonia is a chilly, however that is not true. Some individuals assume that in the event you expose your baby to a chilly, they may get pneumonia. No. It is an an infection. Pneumonia has nothing to do with a chilly.
“When you expose a baby to people who find themselves already contaminated in a crowd, it will possibly result in pneumonia.
“Folks ought to cease bringing their kids with pneumonia to the hospital late when they’re wanting breath and wish oxygen.”
Odesesan stated late presentation kills kids with pneumonia.
Concerning the signs of pneumonia in kids, the physician acknowledged that kids with pneumonia might have issue respiration, fever, shock, lack of urge for food and restlessness.
“When you discover any adjustments in your baby, take them to the hospital for correct medical analysis,” she suggested.
Turning to prevention, the general public well being professional stated there are numerous issues that may be finished to forestall pneumonia.
She famous: “When you increase a baby’s immunity by giving them good meals and training good hygiene by washing their palms, you possibly can scale back their threat of pneumonia.”
WHO says pneumonia is the only largest infectious explanation for dying in kids worldwide.
“Pneumonia killed 740,180 kids below the age of 5 in 2019, of which 14 p.c
p.c of all deaths of youngsters below the age of 5, however 22 p.c of all deaths of youngsters aged one to 5.
“Pneumonia impacts kids and households in all places, however mortality is highest in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
“Kids could be shielded from pneumonia, it may be prevented with easy interventions, and it may be handled with low-cost, low-tech medicine and care.
“Pneumonia is brought on by a number of infectious brokers, together with viruses, micro organism and fungi. Folks liable to pneumonia additionally embody adults over the age of 65 and other people with pre-existing well being situations,” WHO stated.
The worldwide well being physique has famous that prevention of childhood pneumonia is a vital part of a method to cut back baby mortality.
“Sufficient vitamin is vital to bettering kids’s pure defenses, beginning with unique breastfeeding for the primary six months of life. Along with being efficient in stopping pneumonia, it additionally helps to cut back the period of the sickness if the kid falls in poor health,” it states.