What is World Pneumonia Day?
World Pneumonia Day, November 12th, raises concern for this deadly disease. It's also a day when the world takes a stand and demands that action be taken against pneumonia.
Pneumonia is an infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to become full of fluid or pus. As this occurs, oxygen levels are reduced and breathing becomes very difficult. 2.5 million people around the world each year are affected by this infectious disease each year. This number includes 672,000 children. Pneumonia is the most common cause of death among children under the age of 5.. Air pollution is one of the most common risk factors for pneumonia.. Polluted air accounts for nearly one-third of all pneumonia deaths. Deadly air pollution not only occurs outdoors but also indoors.
Infants, children, and seniors over the age of 65 are at the greatest risk of dying from pneumonia. Children are more vulnerable to getting pneumonia from indoor air pollution. On open fires, many developing countries cook with wood, charcoal, dung, and coal. All of these items contribute to indoor air pollution. In addition, tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, asbestos, paint, mold, dust, and synthetic fragrances are among the items that pollute indoor air. Vehicle exhaust and industrial pollutants are two of the causes of outdoor air pollution.
The figures suggest that pneumonia is a result of a high incidence in the United States
Each year, one million people in the United States die of pneumonia each year. Pneumonia causes 400,000 hospitalizations. In poorer countries, pneumonia is more common and fatal. In the United States, more than 20,000 people die each year from pneumonia.. Some of the highest death rates of pneumonia in Africa and Southeast Asia occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.. In 2017, more than half of all childhood deaths from pneumonia occurred in these five countries.
