World Pneumonia Day is annually observed on 12th November. This day is dedicated to spread awareness among people to understand the need to stand together and demand action in the fight against this disease.
Every year, pneumonia affects 55 million children under the age of 5 globally. As most people are still unaware of the causes, and prevention of the disease, World Pneumonia Day is organized around the world to educate people.
This World Pneumonia Day, we look forward to coming together to understand how crucial oxygen is for us and what can be done in our fight against pneumonia. Since respiratory ailments are quite prominent right now, this makes World Pneumonia Day even more relevant.
| Event | World Pneumonia Day |
|---|---|
| Date | November 12, 2022 |
| Day | Saturday |
| Significance | The day raises awareness about pneumonia and calls for action in the fight against it |
| Observed by | World wide |
World Pneumonia Day History:
Pneumonia has been a common disease throughout human history. The word is from Greek (pneúmōn) meaning "lung". The symptoms were described by Hippocrates (c. 460–370 BC): "Peripneumonia, and pleuritic affections, are to be thus observed: If the fever be acute, and if there be pains on either side, or in both, and if expiration be if cough be present, and the sputa expectorated be of a blond or livid color, or likewise thin, frothy, and florid, or having any other character different from the common. However, Hippocrates referred to pneumonia as a disease "named by the ancients". He also reported the results of surgical drainage of empyemas.
Edwin Klebs was the first to observe bacteria in the airways of persons having died of pneumonia in 1875. Initial work identifying the two common bacterial causes, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae, was performed by Carl Friedländer and Albert Fraenkel in 1882 and 1884, respectively. Sir William Osler, known as "the father of modern medicine", appreciated the death and disability caused by pneumonia, describing it as the "captain of the men of death" in 1918, as it had overtaken tuberculosis as one of the leading causes of death in this time. This phrase was originally coined by John Bunyan in reference to "consumption" (tuberculosis).
Viral pneumonia was first described by Hobart Reimann in 1938. Several developments in the 1900s improved the outcome for those with pneumonia. With the advent of penicillin and other antibiotics, modern surgical techniques, and intensive care in the 20th century, mortality from pneumonia, which had approached 30%, dropped precipitously in the developed world. Vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae in adults began in 1977, and in children in 2000, resulting in a similar decline. However pneumonia still remains a widespread disease especially in the developing world.
World Pneumonia Day was first observed on 12 November 2009, under the "Stop Pneumonia" initiatives by Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia, a coalition of various institutions all together to fight the child mortality due to the respiratory infection. Stop Pneumonia got immense support across the globe, various Govt institutions and private organization advocated and implemented the better policies and campaigns to educate people and provide better facilities especially in the low and middle income countries where children suffers with malnutrition and air infections.
World Pneumonia Day Significance:
Pneumonia is an inflammatory respiratory disorder caused due to bacteria, viruses or fungal infections which impair the air sacs of the lungs, called "Alveoli". It results in the accumulation of fluid or pus in the air sacs, making breathing difficult. It is a contagious disease and could be fatal for the person with weaker immunity, especially in the children's and elderly people. It is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria, and less commonly by other microorganisms. Identifying the responsible pathogen can be difficult. Diagnosis is often based on symptoms and physical examination. Chest X-rays, blood tests, and culture of the sputum may help confirm the diagnosis.
Risk factors for pneumonia include cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sickle cell disease, asthma, diabetes, heart failure, a history of smoking, a poor ability to cough (such as following a stroke), and a weak immune system. Vaccines to prevent certain types of pneumonia (such as those caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, linked to influenza, or linked to COVID-19) are available. Other methods of prevention include hand washing to prevent infection, not smoking, and social distancing. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Pneumonia believed to be due to bacteria is treated with antibiotics. If the pneumonia is severe, the affected person is generally hospitalized. Oxygen therapy may be used if oxygen levels are low.
Pneumonia is a preventable and treatable infectious disease as it can be treated with proper and timely vaccination. Despite the availability of treatment, the death toll due to Pneumonia and other respiratory infectious disease has risen drastically in past years. In 2019, 2.5 million people lost their lives, and around 700,000 children below five years died due to the Pneumonia across the world. Also, the Unprecedented COVID outbreak has added the toll to 600,000 more deaths due to respiratory infectious disease in 2021, making it one of the biggest respiratory crisis putting millions of people at risk of infection and death across the world.
To fight the risk of respiratory infection and to, curb the toll due to lack of awareness about respiratory infection and bring the organization on a single platform to create the opportunity to make this preventable infectious disease accessible to all sections of society, World Pneumonia Day plays a crucial role in this, this day encourage various public and private organizations across the globe to contribute and organize several campaigns at their levels to impart preventive measures and provide facility and making sure that no one is deprived of the vaccinations.
World Pneumonia Day Theme:
Several events, programs and discussions are organized on this day as part of the celebrations. A specific theme is also announced under the Stop Pneumonia initiative every year.
The theme of World Pneumonia Day 2022 is "Championing the fight to stop pneumonia".
This theme indicates that the world is still in the process of championing the fight against the disease, which affects 155 million children worldwide on a global scale. It urges people and authorities around the world to take steps towards eradicating this disease as unless we take action now to reduce pneumonia deaths and the risk of further respiratory infection pandemics, millions more adults and children will die from pneumonia over the next decade.
Most Searched FAQs on World Pneumonia Day:
1. When is World Pneumonia Day observed?
World Pneumonia Day is annually observed on 12th November.
2. Where is Pneumonia most prominent?
Children and families are affected by pneumonia all over the world, but mortality rates are greatest in Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, World Pneumonia Day aims to bring awareness across these places and eradicate pneumonia cases.
3. What is the theme of World Pneumonia Day 2022?
The theme of World Pneumonia Day 2022 is "Championing the fight to stop pneumonia".