World Pneumonia Day

November 12, Wednesday

World Pneumonia Day
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World Pneumonia Day is observed every year on November 12. It is aimed at raising awareness about pneumonia as one of the most common and dangerous respiratory infections, as well as supporting measures for its prevention and treatment.

History of origin
The holiday was established in 2009 by the Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia. Its main goal was to draw the attention of the international community to the seriousness of the disease, which had long remained underestimated.

What pneumonia is
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Most often the cause is a bacterial infection, such as pneumococcus. The disease can range from mild to very severe, requiring urgent hospitalization.

Risk groups

* Children under five
* Elderly people
* People with weakened immune systems
* Patients with chronic heart and respiratory diseases

Main symptoms

* Fever
* Cough
* Shortness of breath
* Chest pain during breathing
* Weakness and fatigue

Prevention

* Vaccination against pneumococcal infection and influenza
* Strengthening and maintaining general immunity
* Avoiding smoking
* Hand hygiene
* Ventilating rooms and maintaining clean air

Importance of the day
This day helps to maintain awareness of the development of medical programs, access to vaccines, and treatment of pneumonia in different countries. Thanks to international cooperation, mortality from this disease has been reduced, especially among children. However, pneumonia still causes millions of hospitalizations each year, so public awareness remains extremely important.

World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day in other years

World Pneumonia Day in other countries

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