Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the Philippines, according to the Department of Health (DOH). Caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi, pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can result in mild to severe illness in people of all ages.
However, some people are at increased risk for getting pneumonia. These include adults 65 years or older, children younger than 5 years old, people who have ongoing medical conditions, and people who smoke. Moreover, influenza (flu) can lead to more serious infections such as pneumonia, especially among younger children, the elderly, pregnant women, or those with certain chronic health conditions. Pneumonia as a flu complication tends to be more severe and potentially fatal.
Even with treatment, some people with pneumonia, especially those in the aforementioned high-risk groups, may experience life-threatening complications, including bacteria in the bloodstream, difficulty breathing, fluid accumulation around the lungs, and lung abscess. These complications often require costly treatments and prolonged hospitalization.
Studies show that pneumococcal vaccination, especially of high-risk individuals, is associated with fewer hospitalizations for pneumonia, fewer deaths, and direct medical care cost savings.
Book your family’s pneumococcal vaccination now by visiting https://www.vaccination.watsons.com.ph/.
References: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193578. Accessed 4 August 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/riskfactors.html. Accessed 4 August 2023 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/what-is-the-connection#:~:text=Influenza%20is%20a%20common%20cause,be%20more%20severe%20and%20deadly. Accessed 15 August 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/causes.html. Accessed 4 August 2023 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354204. Accessed 4 August 2023 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10665892/. Accessed 4 August 2023 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2799225?utm_campaign=articlePDF&utm_medium=articlePDFlink&utm_source=articlePDF&utm_content=jamainternmed.2022.5472. Accessed 4 August 2023 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10198-021-01343-8. Accessed 4 August 2023
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