DHAKA, Aug 2, 2024 (BSS) - Two-year-old Safin was very thin. He was suffering from pneumonia for about one and a half month. His mother Samira visited different hospitals for his treatment.

Even, Safin was admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit) of Dhaka Shishu Hospital in the city's Shaymoli. Safin later returned home after recovering from his illness.

Sources said the number of death was about one lakh in ninety's decade. But it (number of death) has been reduced in phases. The death rate has been reduced by eight percent during the last 18 years. But, pneumonia is one of the main causes of death of under five-year-old children till now.

The disease (phenomena) has received significant attention in Bangladesh and around the world. Children are the most vulnerable to the disease.

Experts said premature birth, malnutrition, low immunity and pollution are the main reasons for pneumonia.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital child specialist Dr Saidur Rahman Shohagh said virus and bacterial infection in lungs are the main cause of pneumonia.

He said the common flu has a very sudden onset while pneumonia takes much longer to develop and can be a complication arising from flu.

The common flu is a result of viral infection, while pneumonia is a result of either a bacterial infection or a viral infection.

He said the three most important symptoms that anyone can identify are: coughing, fever, and breathing troubles or chest in-drawing. Chest in-drawing is the inward movement of the lower chest wall when the child breathes in, and is a sign of respiratory distress, he added.

"If your child shows these three signs, it is mandatory to consult a physician without any delay," Shohagh said.

The physician can then decide to either continue the treatment of the child at home or could suggest admission to a hospital based on severity, he said.

 'Stop Pneumonia', an organization, is working across the globe to protect pneumonia. It said pneumonia is one of main reasons of death of child and adult person. About 25 lakh people including about 6.72 lakh children died of pneumonia across the world in 2019.

 It said, air pollution is one of the main reasons of pneumonia and death.

 Sources said about 7.49 lakh people died due to air pollution across the world in 2019.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), about 8.8 lakh children aged under five died due to pneumonia across the globe in 2017 which was 15 percent of the death reason of the same age.

According to Research for Decision Makers (RDM) and Data for Impact (DI) informed that about 24,000 children aged under five died due to pneumonia. But, currently, the death rate has been reduced due to proper initiatives of the present government and other stakeholders.

As per the global goal, the death rate will have to be reduced to three deaths per 1000.

Dr Shohagh said the hospitals and other health centers are giving more importance to the children's treatment. The doctors are giving instant treatment to the children as per the guideline of pneumonia if any child admits with the symptoms of cough and breath problems. The children are also being vaccinated for pneumonia officially, he added.

He urged all to remain alert about their children and adults.