Vietnam Warned of High Number of Pneumonia Child Patients

Vietnamese parents and caregivers need to properly recognize the symptoms of pneumonia, which annually kills about 4,500 children under five years old in the country, and seek appropriate care to reduce fatalities, a health expert said. It is critical that parents and caregivers should understand the danger the disease poses to their children’s health, Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, head of the Infection Department of the Pediatrics Hospital 1 in HCM City said at a symposium in Ho Chi Minh City on Nov 12. Pneumonia is the number one killer among communicable diseases in children, especially those under five years old, he said, adding that 30-40 children are hospitalized to his hospital every day to be treated for respiratory problems including pneumonia. According to statistics, Vietnam ranks ninth among the 15 countries with the highest rates of children with pneumonia every year. The country annually has about 2.9 million new pneumonia child patients under five years old. Pneumonia has a great impact on children health and patients need as many as 6-18 months to recover from the disease, the doctor noted. There are many factors causing pneumonia in children, but the most common culprit is Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria, which is found living in the throat of both adults and children. The bacteria spread through the air when patients have cough or sneeze. Pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumonia is very fatal, with the mortality rate being 10%-20%, which increases up to 50% in children under two years old and elderly people. Vaccination is one of the best measures to protect children from pneumonia. In addition, children should be breasted exclusively in their first six months of life and need to be fed with enough nutrients, especially in the period between six months and two years old. (Tuoi Tre – Youth Nov 13, VnMedia Nov 13)