Pneumonia, The Toddler Main Killer
Posted on | November 8, 2009 | No Comments
Busy prevent the spread of with HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, and influenza A H1N1 made the world off guard. Slowly but surely, pneumonia (pneumonia acute) continues claimed the lives of children.
According to UNICEF and WHO, pneumonia is the number one child killer who has been forgotten (forgotten major killer of children). Whereas, it caused higher mortality when compared with total deaths from AIDS, malaria, and measles.
From 9 million deaths in children under five years (toddler) per year in the world, more than 2 million of them die because of pneumonia. Means, 1 in 5 children who die globally due to bacterial or viral pneumonia.
Causes
Most of the causes of pneumonia are microorganisms (viruses, bacteria). Respiratory virus, or RSV syncital most common cause of pneumonia, especially in infants. The resulting symptoms vary, indicating atypical pneumonia infection.
Symptoms
Common symptoms: fever, cough, runny nose, hoarseness, sore throat. Then, the higher the heat, the more powerful cough, rapid breathing, the muscles pull the ribs, shortness of breath and the patient becomes bluish (cyanosis).
Respiratory symptoms: headache, abdominal pain and vomiting (in children over 5 years)
In babies who breathe with a ventilator: the number of lenders increases, body temperature fluctuations.
In infants (aged under 1 year): the signs of pneumonia are not specific, not always in a fever and cough.
Examination
Immediately after the onset of pneumonia symptoms, do blood tests to determine the number of white blood cells and platelets. Chest X-ray done as well.
Prevention
- For infants in the womb: tests of Group B Streptococcus and Chlamydatrachomatis for pregnant women.
- For the newborn: given the required antibiotic treatment.
- For infants, children, adults: Hib vaccination and IPD.
[image: topnews.in]
Related Posts :
Comments
Leave a Reply
