A Public Health Physician, Dr. Rahmat Odesesan, has said contrary to popular beliefs, pneumonia is not caused by cold but by an infection.
The physician said parents should stop practices that could expose their children to the risk of pneumonia such as cooking with stoves indoors and poor hygiene practices and even exposure to any form of smoke, stating that a variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi could cause pneumonia.
Odesesan, who is the Medical Officer of Health, Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State, also noted that pneumonia is one of the major killers of children under-five, but could be prevented through good nutrition and hygiene practices.
He said, “Smoke affects the immune system and exposes the person to the risk of pneumonia and other infections that affect the lungs.
“Pneumonia is airborne and once it affects the lungs, they will not be able to function properly.
“Any form of smoke should be avoided inside the room. Anything emitting smoke should be used in a good-ventilated area.
“People should avoid cooking with stoves and firewood indoors to avoid exposing children to pneumonia.
“They should cook outside where there can be good ventilation. Don’t pollute the air in the room. Using the stove inside the room will make the air there to be concentrated. And it is dangerous to the lungs whether to the child or the mother.
“Do your cooking where there is ventilation. The room is compacted. So, any form of cooking should be done outside.
“Some people feel that pneumonia is cold, but this is not true. Some people think that when you expose the child to a cold, he will be having pneumonia. No. It is an infection. Pneumonia has nothing to do with the cold.
“If you expose the child to people that are already infected in a crowded area, that can make the child come down with pneumonia.
“People should stop bringing their children with pneumonia late to the hospital when they are breathless and would be requiring oxygen.”
Speaking on the symptoms of pneumonia in children, the physician stated that children with pneumonia might have difficulty in breathing, fever, shock, loss of appetite, and restlessness.
“If you notice any changes in your child, take him to the hospital for proper medical evaluation,” she counseled.
Also speaking on the prevention, the public health expert said there are a lot of things that could be done to prevent pneumonia.
She stated, “Once you boost the child’s immunity by giving them good food and practicing good hygiene by hand washing you can risk their risk of pneumonia.”
According to the World Health Organisation, pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that is most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria. While it can be prevented by vaccines, the infection can yet cause mild to life-threatening illness in people of all ages.
The world health body stated that pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide.
