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World Pneumonia Day is celebrated on November 12, just before the start of winter, with the aim of raising awareness of the preventive measures we should take at this time of year, as well as the need for immediate treatment at the onset of symptoms of the most common lung infection.

Causes of pneumonia

The causes of community-acquired pneumonia are bacteria, the most important of which is pneumococcus, various viruses such as influenza A and B, COVID 19, fungi, etc. The transmission of both pneumococcus and various viruses is carried out by infected droplets, which are transmitted by coughing and sneezing and are inhaled from the lungs to the alveoli, which, due to the infection, are filled with inflammatory material at the expense of the inhaled oxygen that the body needs for the functioning of vital organs, such as the heart, brain and kidneys, resulting in their gradual failure.

Who is most at risk

Pneumonia can occur at any age, but it is particularly dangerous for infants, the elderly and people with underlying diseases, such as COPD, heart failure, diabetes or a weakened immune system, e.g. patients with various types of cancer. Pneumonia can cause great morbidity and mortality due to the possibility of serious complications, such as meningitis and sepsis. It is the fifth cause of death in adults, especially the elderly in whom mortality is almost 10 times higher than in the rest of the population, and the second in young children.

Symptoms and early diagnosis

The most common symptoms are cough, purulent sputum, fever, shortness of breath, pleuritic pain and a feeling of fatigue and weakness. With the appearance of the first symptoms, the patient should immediately visit their doctor, who will diagnose pneumonia with the history, clinical examination and chest X-ray. The sooner the diagnosis is made and the treatment begins, the less likely it is that serious complications will occur in the course, and for this reason it is very important and we should not neglect it and put our health at risk.

Treatment and medical monitoring

In most cases, the treatment of pneumonia includes antibiotics for bacterial infections, antivirals for viral infections, hydration, rest and simultaneous clinical and laboratory monitoring. Hospitalization with intravenous treatment may be necessary only in severe cases, especially in vulnerable groups, for this reason we should evaluate the course very carefully. The treatment of difficult complications, such as severe respiratory failure and empyema, requires specialized medical personnel, oxygen administration and management of the infection so that the patient’s life is not at risk or that residual damage remains.

The importance of prevention

Despite the abundance of antibiotics and other therapeutic substances, in the last 40 years, unfortunately, there has been no reduction in mortality from pneumonia, and for this reason, it is even more urgent to understand that prevention is the most basic measure to prevent us from mourning so many victims every year from the disease.

Avoiding contact with those who show symptoms, who should also be removed from their obligations, good hand washing, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, exercise and vaccination for influenza, RSV and pneumococcus, must be self-evident.

Vaccines have the greatest contribution to public health, and for this reason they are considered the greatest achievement of medicine. Citizens and especially patients belonging to vulnerable groups can contact their doctor to be informed about the benefits and safety of vaccination and stop being afraid.

A message of life

World Pneumonia Day should raise our awareness towards prevention and compliance with the prescribed measures. With proper care, early diagnosis and vaccination, we can drastically reduce cases