Islamabad - Pakistan is among top five countries which account for 99 percent of childhood pneumonia cases and around 92,000 children under 5 years of age die of Pneumonia annually in Pakistan’, said paediatricians on Saturday.

In a seminar held here, the President Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) Professor Dr Rai Muhammad Asghar said that as per World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, pneumonia accounts for 16 percent of the total child deaths making it the leading killer of children less than 5 years of age globally.

‘Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli (small sacs in lungs which fill with air when a healthy person breathes) are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.

It is to be noted that vaccines are considered second only to clean drinking water in reducing infectious diseases,’ he added.

‘This is very unfortunate as free vaccines against pneumonia are available under Extended Program for Immunization (EPI) and loss of precious lives can be prevented,’ he added. ‘Children under five with severe cases of pneumonia may struggle to breathe with their chests moving in or retracting during inhalation (known as ‘lower chest wall in drawing’). Young infants may suffer convulsions, unconsciousness, hypothermia, lethargy and feeding problem,’ said Professor Rai.

Prof Dr Shahzad Munir, President PPA said ‘Pneumonia is caused by a number of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and fungi.

The most common causes of pneumonia amongst children include Streptococcus Pneumonia and Haemophilus Influenzae type B (Hib). He added, ‘Preventing children from developing pneumonia in the first place is critical to reducing its death toll. Fortunately, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (pneumonia vaccine) was introduced in Pakistan’s EPI program in October 2012, and this achievement made Pakistan become the first South Asian country to include PCV in its national immunization program,’ he added.

Prof(R) Dr Tabish Hazir, seasoned paediatrician said, ‘proper nutrition, clean drinking water and vaccines are important to fight pneumonia. Vaccines against pneumococcus, Hib, pertussis, and measles can prevent a significant portion of pneumonia cases from ever occurring,’ he added.

‘Preventing pneumonia averts treatment costs; other loses due to illness, and allows children to become healthy, productive adults. Vaccines hold the promise of saving millions of children from dying of pneumonia. Parents participation for immunization and increase in vaccine coverage would also save 2.9 million lives and prevent 52 million cases of illness,’ he concluded.