The influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, which occurred in 2009, is now in its post-pandemic stage. Although there have been no large outbreaks of influenza in recent months, it does not mean that influenza is a thing of the past and something we no longer have to worry about. Influenza is not just the “flu” or a common cold, it is a very serious and specific disease of the respiratory system, which can result in hospitalisation and even death if not treated accordingly.
Can influenza cause pneumonia?
Influenza weakens your immune system, leaving you susceptible and vulnerable to various other illnesses which may lead to serious complications. Bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of secondary pneumonia, following influenza.
Pneumococcus can also cause ear infections, meningitis, as well as bloodstream infections. These illnesses are serious and are a main cause for concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in 20 people who contract pneumonia die from the infection, two out of 10 people who get bloodstream infections will die and three people out of 10 who contract meningitis will die. The risk of death from pneumonia or influenza is higher for people with heart disease, diabetes, or weakened immune systems such as from AIDS, on steroids or with congenital immunodeficiency disorders.
Higher cases of pneumonia with more influenza cases
Influenza is highly contagious, and is easily spread from person to person, mainly through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks and also when a person touches a contaminated surface or object. With the increase of influenza cases worldwide, pneumonia and other pneumococcal diseases have been on the rise as well. Influenza’s infection creates a gateway to other harmful viruses and bacteria into your body.
Complications from influenza
Risks for complications, hospitalisations and deaths for influenza and influenza-related cases are higher in young children, elderly folks – those aged 65 years and above, as well as any individual with medical conditions such as asthma or lung diseases. Complications that may arise from influenza include middle ear infections, neurological problems, heart inflammation as well as pulmonary diseases like bronchitis. In short, a weakened immune system can cause the onset of many diseases, which may be fatal or have devastating consequences.
Death by respiratory infections
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 3.9 million deaths are caused by acute respiratory infections and are the leading cause of death in children below the age of 5 years. In addition to pneumococcal disease, influenza increases the risk of other respiratory diseases such as viral upper and lower respiratory illnesses, and bronchiolitis, which are caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza viruses (PIV).
Prevention starts with YOU
All cases of pneumococcus infection could be treated effectively with antibiotics such as penicillin. In recent years however, the bacteria have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, making it very difficult to treat such diseases. Therefore, the best and most effective way to treat pneumococcal diseases is by preventing it in the first place, and that is through vaccination.
Although there is a possibility for anyone to get pneumococcal disease, there are still certain groups of people who are at a greater risk of getting the disease, some even becoming seriously ill. Therefore, it is important that these groups of individuals get vaccinated:
- Adults aged 65 years and above.
- Children aged 2 to 24 months, especially those with chronic medical conditions such as, diabetes, lung (except asthma), heart, kidney or liver disease.
- Those with immune systems weakened by conditions such as cancer or HIV infection.
- Those without a functioning spleen or suffer from sickle cell disease.
There are two types of vaccines against pneumococcal disease: A polysaccharide vaccine and a conjugate vaccine. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for children aged 2-24 months, as they fall into the highest risk group for invasive pneumococcal diseases and they do not respond to polysaccharide vaccines. Whereas the polysaccharide vaccines are given to the other group of individuals as stated above.
Weigh the risks
Vaccination is in fact a principal means of preventing many diseases, thus avoiding unnecessary illness, disability and death. Some parents may have concerns about vaccinations, worried about any side effects that may occur. However, vaccinations are among the safest, as its benefits far outweigh its risks. The most usual side effects from vaccinations may be just a redness or swelling at the injection site, which soon goes away. In very rare cases, some may experience allergic reactions, which can be treated effectively when taken care of promptly.
The benefits of vaccination cannot be seen immediately; but with vaccination, it will help to protect yourself and people around you. Though vaccination is not 100% effective in all children, being vaccinated is much safer than not since the vaccine does protect against 88% of the pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia. They are the best guard against diseases that have the potential to kill or even disable millions of children and adults for life.
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