Pollution and Fluctuating Weather Make Children Under the Age of Five Vulnerable to Pneumonia

Whether it is children, the old, or the young, everyone’s health is suffering these days. The common cold, which used to be treated in three to five days, is now taking longer to heal. Because of rising pollution, the number of patients visiting hospitals with breathing problems has increased by around 15%.

Children are becoming victims of pneumonia when the cold and pollution levels rise. Those who have not been immunised are at a higher risk of becoming unwell.

Dr. D.K. Gupta, a paediatrician, stated that youngsters suffering from pneumonia are being admitted to the OPD and that early detection of its symptoms can ensure therapy to save them. According to Gupta, children require extra care throughout the winter since they are more susceptible to pneumonia.

He mentioned that some preventive measures for children’s safety include keeping them completely clothed and covering their ears to protect them from cold. Wheezing in the chest, he continued, can be an indication of pneumonia in children.

Because of pneumonia, most children under the age of five have difficulties breathing and drinking milk. They are vulnerable to a variety of additional issues, including fever, ear infection, diarrhoea, and measles, a highly contagious disease caused by the measles virus.

Measles vaccination is highly successful in preventing the disease. When an infected individual coughs or sneezes, droplets in the air spread. They become infectious when inhaled by a healthy individual. During the epidemic, regular immunisation of children was disrupted, resulting in their vaccine course staying incomplete.

Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections all cause lung infections. A cold, on the other hand, is an allergy that causes a runny nose and mucous in the throat.

Vaccines such as the Pneumococcal vaccination, PCV 13, and the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine can protect children from bacterial pneumonia. Washing hands with soap or handwash on a regular basis, avoiding direct contact with infected people, and shielding the face with an elbow when sneezing all help to prevent pneumonia.

Pneumonia Symptoms

• Chest pain, particularly during breathing or coughing
• Cough with phlegm or mucus; yellow, green, or blood-red in colour
• Excessive tiredness
• Appetite loss
• Fever
• Chills and sweating
• Vomiting and nausea