The forgotten child killer
Nov 01, 2009
THREE-YEAR-OLD Sandra Mugenyi developed a high temperature which compelled her parents to rush her to a nearby clinic. “She has a high fever and her breathing is strenuous,†her mother said.
Today, the world marks the first World Pneumonia Day. The major aim is to help bring this health crisis to the public’s attention
By Halima Shaban
THREE-YEAR-OLD Sandra Mugenyi developed a high temperature which compelled her parents to rush her to a nearby clinic. “She has a high fever and her breathing is strenuous,†her mother said.
She was given malaria tablets. “Sometimes you can test for malaria and the results are negative. Let’s give her malaria tablets for a week. If her condition does not improve, bring her back,†a health worker at the centre said after blood tests were done.
When Mugenyi was taken back home, the temperature continued rising, she was sweating and shivering. Her lungs were visibly stiff and she had difficulty breathing. Her parents took her to hospital and she was diagnosed with pneumonia.
Like many children suffering in health centres countrywide, Mugenyi was battling a painful case of pneumonia and was likely to be put on oxygen, depending on the severity of the disease.
Dr. Jesca Nsungwa of Mulago Hospital says new evidence shows that pneumonia kills more children than measles (197,000 deaths), malaria (800,000 deaths) and HIV/AIDS (300,000 deaths) combined.
Dr. Eric Wobudeya, a paediatrician at Mulago, says many health workers cannot differentiate between malaria and pneumonia symptoms.
“Although preventable, the disease remains neglected, due to ignorance of its causes and symptoms,†he says.
After the examination of 2,080 children under the age of five at Mulago Hospital, it has been established that pneumonia is more common and has a higher mortality rate than malaria.
“Our data is scanty, but a survey conducted in Mulago from 2005 to July 2008 shows that 24% of under five children in Mulago had pneumonia,†Wobudeya says.
Dr. Jeremiah Twatwa, the assistant commissioner for child health in the ministry, calls for a database on the disease.
“There are more drugs to control malaria than pneumonia because it is difficult for the Government to redirect resources to a little known disease. The only way out is to get more data on the disease,†Twatwa says.
Wobudeya says all forms of pneumonia, however fatal, are preventable if the disease is detected early and proper medication sought.
Wobudeya says pneumonia has become resistant to simple drugs, yet chemotherapy, which is used to combat the disease in the developed world, is not available in government hospitals and clinics because it is expensive.
What causes pneumonia?
Dr Willy Kisitu, a consultant paediatrician at Kabale Referral Hospital, says pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection.
Three common causes are bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Those at a higher risk are children below two years, people above 65 years and those with health problems.
According to the UNICEF report, severe pneumonia is caused by a bacterial pathogen, streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenza, which attack a child’s lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing, coughing, fever, chills, headaches, loss of appetite and wheezing.
To manage pneumonia at the community level, the health ministry is training health workers on how to diagnose the disease.
How to prevent pneumonia
According to a UNICEF report, preventing pneumonia is better than treating it. The best preventive measure is exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months because this gives the child immunity.
Avoid crowded homes, exposure to parental smoking and indoor pollution as these may lead to severe pneumonia.
By Halima Shaban
THREE-YEAR-OLD Sandra Mugenyi developed a high temperature which compelled her parents to rush her to a nearby clinic. “She has a high fever and her breathing is strenuous,†her mother said.
She was given malaria tablets. “Sometimes you can test for malaria and the results are negative. Let’s give her malaria tablets for a week. If her condition does not improve, bring her back,†a health worker at the centre said after blood tests were done.
When Mugenyi was taken back home, the temperature continued rising, she was sweating and shivering. Her lungs were visibly stiff and she had difficulty breathing. Her parents took her to hospital and she was diagnosed with pneumonia.
Like many children suffering in health centres countrywide, Mugenyi was battling a painful case of pneumonia and was likely to be put on oxygen, depending on the severity of the disease.
Dr. Jesca Nsungwa of Mulago Hospital says new evidence shows that pneumonia kills more children than measles (197,000 deaths), malaria (800,000 deaths) and HIV/AIDS (300,000 deaths) combined.
Dr. Eric Wobudeya, a paediatrician at Mulago, says many health workers cannot differentiate between malaria and pneumonia symptoms.
“Although preventable, the disease remains neglected, due to ignorance of its causes and symptoms,†he says.
After the examination of 2,080 children under the age of five at Mulago Hospital, it has been established that pneumonia is more common and has a higher mortality rate than malaria.
“Our data is scanty, but a survey conducted in Mulago from 2005 to July 2008 shows that 24% of under five children in Mulago had pneumonia,†Wobudeya says.
Dr. Jeremiah Twatwa, the assistant commissioner for child health in the ministry, calls for a database on the disease.
“There are more drugs to control malaria than pneumonia because it is difficult for the Government to redirect resources to a little known disease. The only way out is to get more data on the disease,†Twatwa says.
Wobudeya says all forms of pneumonia, however fatal, are preventable if the disease is detected early and proper medication sought.
Wobudeya says pneumonia has become resistant to simple drugs, yet chemotherapy, which is used to combat the disease in the developed world, is not available in government hospitals and clinics because it is expensive.
What causes pneumonia?
Dr Willy Kisitu, a consultant paediatrician at Kabale Referral Hospital, says pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection.
Three common causes are bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Those at a higher risk are children below two years, people above 65 years and those with health problems.
According to the UNICEF report, severe pneumonia is caused by a bacterial pathogen, streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenza, which attack a child’s lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing, coughing, fever, chills, headaches, loss of appetite and wheezing.
To manage pneumonia at the community level, the health ministry is training health workers on how to diagnose the disease.
How to prevent pneumonia
According to a UNICEF report, preventing pneumonia is better than treating it. The best preventive measure is exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months because this gives the child immunity.
Avoid crowded homes, exposure to parental smoking and indoor pollution as these may lead to severe pneumonia.