World Pneumonia Day – an awareness health day. #WorldPneumoniaDay
World Pneumonia Day
Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of deaths in children under five years old despite being easily preventable and treatable. Although vaccines and other preventative efforts are decreasing the burden of the disease, much more work is still required.
Established in 2009, World Pneumonia Day is marked every year on November 12th to raise awareness about pneumonia, the world’s leading infectious killer of children under the age of 5, and to promote interventions to protect against and treat pneumonia, and highlight proven approaches and solutions in need of additional resources and attention.
2019, marked the 10th Anniversary of this day.
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.
Mayo Clinic
I had pneumonia once. I was in the hospital for three days. They also told me I tested positive for Influenza A, then too.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:
- Chest pain when you breathe or cough
- Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
- Cough, which may produce phlegm
- Fatigue
- Fever, sweating and shaking chills
- Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
Signs and Symptoms used from the Mayo Clinic – First published November 12, 2019. Last updated or republished November 10, 2020.
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