Pneumonia is a serious respiratory infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which can fill with fluid or pus, causing a range of symptoms that vary in severity.
Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for effective recovery and to prevent complications, especially in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
Key Symptoms to Watch For
Pneumonia often starts with symptoms similar to the common cold or flu but rapidly escalates. Common signs include:
Persistent Cough: A cough that produces green, yellow, or even bloody mucus.
High Fever and Chills: A sudden spike in body temperature accompanied by chills can signal the body’s response to the infection.
Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing or rapid, shallow breathing is a hallmark of pneumonia, often accompanied by chest pain that worsens with deep breaths or coughing.
Fatigue and Weakness: General malaise and severe tiredness can indicate the body’s struggle to fight the infection.
Sweating and Clammy Skin: This symptom often appears as the body attempts to regulate its temperature.
Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea: In some cases, gastrointestinal symptoms can occur.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
Catching pneumonia early is essential for effective treatment and to minimize the risk of complications such as lung abscesses, respiratory failure, or sepsis. Early intervention typically involves antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia and antiviral or supportive treatments for other types. Delayed treatment can lead to severe health outcomes, especially in high-risk groups.
How to Differentiate Pneumonia from Other Respiratory Illnesses
Pneumonia can mimic other respiratory conditions like bronchitis or the flu, making it essential to pay attention to the progression of symptoms:
Duration and Intensity: While colds and the flu may improve within a week or so, pneumonia symptoms tend to persist or worsen over time.
Cough Type: Pneumonia coughs are more likely to be productive (mucus-producing) compared to the dry coughs of many viral infections.
Breathing Patterns: Difficulty breathing and chest pain are more pronounced in pneumonia than in standard bronchitis or flu.
Pneumonia remains a significant health challenge in Nigeria, particularly among children under five.
Experts have highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue through comprehensive strategies and policy implementation.
In an interview with The Punch, a Professor of Medicine at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Gregory Erhabor, stressed the need for consistent health policies targeting pneumonia.
He said, “In Nigeria, many governors lack consistent and comprehensive policies for controlling pneumonia among children. Pneumonia causes about 100,000 deaths in Nigeria each year, many of them occurring in the first year of life.”
Also, the Save the Children’s lead for childhood pneumonia in Nigeria, Dr. Adamu Isah, shared insights on the critical role of awareness and prompt medical intervention.
He recounted a case where a child’s life was saved due to timely action: “Without parents who were aware and health care workers who acted fast, he wouldn’t have made it. He would have been another one of the 130,000 Nigerian children under five who lose their lives to pneumonia each year.”
According to the World Health Organisation, Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide.
The world health body on its website revealed that Pneumonia killed 740 180 children under the age of 5 in 2019, accounting for 14% of all deaths of children under 5 years old but 22% of all deaths in children aged 1 to 5 years.
