World Pneumonia Day is commemorated annually on 12 November, to raise awareness about pneumonia, which was the second most prevalent killer of children under the age of five years together with influenza in South Africa in 2016.
Studies have shown that HIV-infected and HIV-exposed uninfected children have a higher risk of severe pneumonia and death compared to HIV-uninfected children.
What is Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infectious respiratory disease affecting the lungs, wherein the lungs (alveoli) are filled with pus and fluid, causing difficulty in breathing due to limited intake of oxygen.
The disease is caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi, which can spread through airborne droplets from a cough or a sneeze. The disease is common in low income and developing regions, mostly in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The common causes of pneumonia among children are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Pneumocystis jirovecii.
