‘Pneumonia deaths might increase by 75 percent’

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Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection caused by viruses or bacteria. As indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO), "it can cause mild to life-threatening illness in people of all ages; however, it is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide."

Today (November 12) marks the World Pneumonia Day. On this occasion, the Turkish Respiratory Society (TRS) has emphasized the importance of vaccination against pneumonia, which has become especially more dangerous amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Assoc. Prof. Berna Kömürcüoğlu, the Chair of TRS Infection Working Group, has underlined that both the pneumonia cases and deaths have seriously increased due to the outbreak, noting that "they are now on their agenda more than they have ever been before."

According to Kömürcüoğlu, nearly 2.5 million people lost their lives for reasons related to pneumonia in 2019 and it expected that, this year, an additional 1.9 million people can be added to this figure:

"It means an increase of 75 percent in the number of deaths caused by pneumonia when compared to previous years."

Assoc. Prof. Berna Kömürcüoğlu has noted that "during the pandemic, it is of vital importance to shorten the diagnosis process with rapid diagnosis methods, to ensure effective treatment and isolation and to provide the patients with oxygen support, if they need any."

'Vaccination is still important'

Kömürcüoğlu has especially emphasized the importance of vaccination against pneumonia amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She has noted that people are more vulnerable to pneumonia if they suffer from conditions that weaken their immune system such as chronic liver disorders, cardiac disorders, other chronic diseases or having their spleens removed.

"Vaccination is still important," the physician has underlined, adding that "especially children and risk groups need to be vaccinated against pneumonia and seasonal flu to be protected from the effects of pneumonia."

Assoc. Prof. Kömürcüoğlu has concluded that "vaccination decreases the incidence of pneumonia and the number of deaths caused by pneumonia." (DŞ/SD)