With the lifting of the state of public health emergency brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, experts weigh in on the potential rise of pneumonia cases in children.
Pediatric infectious diseases and vaccine experts Dr. Anna Ong-Lim and Dr. Maria Rosario Capeding warn that a combination of factors, including decreased vigilance in preventive measures and increased mobility of the population may contribute to the pneumonia cases especially to the unvaccinated population of young children below 5 years old.
Dr. Anna Ong-Lim reported that during the pandemic, there was a decrease in pneumonia cases as an offshoot of the public health precautions and measures placed for COVID-19.
Childhood Pneumonia is an infectious disease that manifests with symptoms in a child’s lungs which causes complications in breathing. These complications may further lead to lung abscess, sepsis, bacteremia or bacteria in the bloodstream, respiratory failure, and death.
Pneumonia can affect people of all ages but babies and children of 2 years of age or younger are at higher risk because their immune systems are still developing.
Pneumonia in the Philippines
In the local setting, childhood pneumonia has taken a total of 60,500 Filipino children in 2022, majority of which were children below 5 years of age, making it the most common cause of death for children in the country.
Of the 90 known serotypes of S.pneumoniae, 32 have been identified in the country as of 2018, putting 11 million Filipino infants and children falling under the age group of those most susceptible to the disease at risk.
Preventive Measures and Vaccination
Dr. Capeding reminds the public that embracing practices learned from the pandemic such as wearing of masks has been proven effective in preventing respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and pneumonia. She stressed that proactive measures surpass reactive solutions.
While wearing of face masks was an essential step in curbing the spread of the pandemic, Dr. Capeding believes that the practice is not sustainable for common respiratory diseases like pneumonia. To address childhood pneumonia, she emphasized that vaccination is foremost preventive measure.
It's never too late to protect your child against pneumonia. As early as 1.5 months after birth, infants and children should be protected from this deadly disease. Mothers, fathers, and caretakers are encouraged to visit the nearest health center and have your children vaccinated before it’s too late.
For more information about childhood pneumonia and immunization, talk to your private pediatrician or visit your nearest health center.
This is a press release distributed by Rebel Manila Brand Marketing Services Inc.