: Paediatricians have called for measures to prevent pneumonia-related deaths, which account for about 17-20 per cent of infant deaths in the State. The Infant Mortality Rate of the State is around 11-13/1000 live births.
On World Pneumonia Day paediatricians are looking at ways to bring down mortality during the period after 28 days of birth and under five years.
At a press meet here, national president-elect for Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) S. Sachidananda Kamath said that across the country nearly 31 per cent children below five struggle to overcome pneumonia, which claims many lives.
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The theme of the day is Universal access for pneumonia prevention and care, and IAP’s campaign — Fight Pneumonia and Save a Child — aims to create awareness among parents, healthcare professionals and policymakers.
President of IAP, Kochi, M. Narayanan, said pneumonia can be easily diagnosed with clinical examination and it is usually the untreated pneumonia causes death. Healthcare professionals have to raise awareness on the disease that is highly preventable.
Dr. Narayanan said the introduction of the HIB vaccine under the pentavalent vaccine made major difference in the fight against pneumonia. IAP has recommended inclusion of pneumococcal vaccine in the national immunisation package.
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Dr. Jeeson C. Unni, editor-in-chief, IAP Drug Formulary, said the pneumococcal vaccine has the serum of 13 strains of bacteria that can cause pneumonia.
Over the last 30 years, pneumonia and meningitis cases have plummeted in the State because of the high levels of immunisation and relatively better hygiene and care of children, said Dr. Narayanan.