Preventing Pneumonia
by Maan d’asis pamaran
Keep your kids safe from public enemy number 1 If germs had their own “Wanted” roster, this particular bug strain would top the list as public enemy number 1. According to Dr. Lulu Bravo, head of the Asian Strategic Alliance for Pneumoccocal disease prevention (ASAP), invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is the leading cause of death in children under 5 in the Asia Pacific region. Statistics show that in this region, 98 children die from pneumonia every hour – more than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined.
Hot spots for IPD include India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The Philippines is the 10th country in the ranking. “The problem is, pneumonia is not a notifiable disease, so there is no reporting system, even in the big hospitals, on the number of cases that they handle.”
IPD is an acute bacterial disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus. And what is alarming about this disease is the streptococcus bacteria have been developing resistance to commonly used antibiotics.
Gang of three
IPD weapons of choice are pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. As Prof. Iqbal Memon of Pakistan, one of ASAP’s key members, explains, it is all about where the bacteria end up.
PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA
This infection with a tongue-twisting name is a common but serious illness. It is an inflammation of the lungs that particularly targets kids under 2 and adults over 65, along with people who are sick with chronic heart, lung, and liver diseases or sickle cell anemia.
Signs and symptoms:
• May begin with a seizure or chills
• High fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath and chest pains
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Tiredness and muscle pain
MENINGITIS
This is characterized by the inflammation of the meninges or the fluid-filled membranes of the brain and spinal cord. It may be caused by bacteria or viruses, but bacterial mengingitis, such as the one caused by S. pneumoniae, is usually more serious and can be life-threatening. Many children who survive the infection are left with permanent neurological impairments such as hearing loss, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and lower intelligence.
Signs and symptoms:
• Fever and chills
• Severe headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck (in some cases, opisthonos, or severe neck stiffness resulting in a characteristic arched posture – seen in infants or small children)
• Sensitivity to light
• Sleepiness or inability to fully wake up
• Feeling of confusion
• Rapid breathing
• Agitation, poor feeding, or irritability in children
• Bulging fontanel (membrane-covered opening in or between bones)
SEPSIS
This is the presence of bacteria in the blood (bacteremia). It can affect a person of any age, but it usually targets infants, whose immune systems are still underdeveloped, or those with immune system conditions such as people with HIV.
Signs and symptoms:
For newborns and infants
• Disinterest or difficulty in feeding
• Fever
• Irritability or crankiness
• Lethargy
• Decreased tone or floppiness
• Changes in heart rate
• Difficulty in breathing
• Periods where baby seems to stop breathing
• Jaundice
For older children
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Racing heartbeat
How it attacks
Memon says that IPD is spread through droplets. “In hot weather, people tend to stay in air-conditioned rooms, go to air-conditioned malls, or ride air-conditioned modes of transportation. This makes the spread (of the disease) so much easier.”
This, coupled with malnutrition, bad hygiene conditions, and pollution in the environment, all contribute to the attack of the IPD menace.
Battle plan
Most of the signs and symptoms of IPD, such as cough and fever, are common enough to be neglected by the typical parent. It may be too late before the child is brought to a physician for medical attention. Memon advises that whenever a child is not feeling well, the parent should already be extra vigilant.
Prevention is very important, says Memon. “Good nutrition, breastfeeding, staying in less crowded areas, and cleaning the environment are best ways to prevent IPD and a lot of other diseases.”
Vaccination is also crucial, he says: “Vaccines are the best single source of preventing diseases.”
Source: Manila Bulletin