Not just children but adults too can’t escape pneumonia

Despite being easily preventable and treatable, Pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of deaths in children and adults as well. Pneumonia is a disease which is generally associated with young patients, however, it majorly effects adults as well. According to the Center for Disease Control, one out of 20 adults who get pneumonia dies.

Preventing pneumonia in the elderly a serious matter. Although vaccines and other preventative efforts are decreasing the burden of the disease, much more work is still required. Those living in poor communities are at highest risk of pneumonia.

Patient with infectious pneumonia often has a productive cough, fever accompanied by shaking chills, shortness of breath, sharp or stabbing chest pain during deep breaths, and an increased rate of breathing. In the elderly, confusion may be the most prominent sign.

According to Dr Samavedam Srinivas, HOD of Critical care medicine Virinchi Hospital, “ Pneumonia cases can differ from each other because of many other factors that come into play. They can differ according to the ‘Illness-Causing Agent’, according to ‘Where the Infection Was Acquired’ and then there are other types of pneumonia that don’t fall under the categories listed above. Regardless, it’s still important to be vigilant and consult a physician or health expert when you notice symptoms of these infections since some diseases might lead to further harm.”

One of the most common infectious diseases which is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide is community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). CAP is acquired in the community, outside of health care facilities or within 48 hrs of admission to a hospital. In 2008, the WHO reported the highest burden of pneumonia to be from Asia. Majority of the cases i.e. 43 million were from the Indian subcontinent. 600,000 patients being hospitalised with pneumonia every year. Approximately 20 per cent of patients are hospitalised due to a severe CAP, with the mortality rate being another 20 per cent.

According to Dr J Srinivas HOD of Critical care medicine, Citizen Hospital, “Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is defined as pneumonia not acquired in a hospital or a long-term care facility. Despite the availability of potent new antimicrobials and effective vaccines. The annual incidence of CAP varies from five–11 per 1,000 population with the rates being higher in the elderly.”

The mortality of CAP in India is comparable to that reported elsewhere in the world. The mortality rates are less than 15 per cent in the outpatient setting but may be as high as 12 per cent in hospitalised patients.