Experts at Hamad Medical Corporation has urged parents to be vigilant about signs of pneumonia, with symptoms as a cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing in their children.
As people across the globe mark the fifth annual World Pneumonia Day Dr Amjad Tuffaha, Senior Consultant, Department of Pediatrics at Hamad General Hospital, has reminded parents in Qatar that pneumonia is a preventable disease.
“Although pneumonia can affect any age group, the most vulnerable are children under five,” Dr Tuffaha said. However, if parents learn more about this infectious disease and follow preventive measures their children will be at minimum risk of being affected.
“Parents should be concerned when they notice initial symptoms like constant cough and high fever in their children, followed by difficulty in breathing and loss of appetite as the disease advances,” Dr Tuffaha said.
He advised parents to start the process of immunisation for their children immediately, as it will decrease the risk significantly.
Pneumonia is a lung infection most commonly caused by the inhalation of bacteria, viruses or other kinds of germs, which results in the inflammation of lung tissue. Each year pneumonia claims the lives of nearly 1.5 million children in the world, making it the single most deadly disease, even more than malaria, AIDS and measles combined.
Dr Tuffaha confirmed that ‘the bacteria that cause pneumonia can happen in any environment.’
“However, the disease can be limited by adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercising regularly, washing hands appropriately, coughing in the correct manner and making sure children are properly vaccinated,’ he said.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/260465-parents-urged-to-watch-out-for-pneumonia-symptoms-in-kids.html
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