Pneumonia remains a significant health concern among children in Uganda, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five. It is often exacerbated by factors, such as malnutrition, inadequate healthcare infrastructure and limited access to vaccines.
In an August 3, 2024 webinar organised by the Busoga Health Forum on pediatric pneumonia management, Dr Sabrina Kitaka, a specialist paediatrician from the department of Pediatrics at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, addressed the issue of antibiotic over-prescription. She noted that qualified and unqualified medical practitioners contribute to the challenge, which hampers the fight against pneumonia.
Dr Kitaka said only 20% of respiratory infections require antibiotic treatment. The remaining 80% do not benefit from antibiotics and their misuse contributes to antibiotic use principles including treating only bacterial infections, properly assessing patients, recognising local resistance patterns and using effective agents.
“If a child can take oral antibiotics, avoid using injectable antibiotics. Following proper prescription criteria will gradually help us in the fight against pneumonia,” she advised.
Key symptoms
The high prevalence of pneumonia is linked to environmental conditions, such as poor air quality, crowded living conditions and a lack of access to timely medical care and antibiotics. Key symptoms of pneumonia include a cough that may produce greenish, yellow or bloody mucus, fever and sweating. Others are shaking chills, shortness of breath, rapid shallow breathing, stabbing chest pain, loss of appetite and fatigue.
Dr Kitaka explained that pneumonia, which refers to any condition causing inflammation of the lungs, can vary based on it is acquisition. It can be classified as community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia or pneumonia occurring at birth.
The challenge can be addressed by improving vaccination coverage, case management with Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) at all healthcare levels, enhancing healthcare services and promoting awareness about preventive measures and early treatment.
Statistics
Despite the Government’s efforts since 2012 to scale up approaches to protect, prevent and treat pneumonia among children under five, the disease continues to claim lives in various parts of Uganda. National surveillance data from 2022 indicates an incidence of severe pneumonia at 108 per 100,000 children under five. Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate show that pneumonia accounts for 10% of under-five deaths in Uganda, with at least 25 children dying from the disease every day.
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs, causing the alveoli to fill with pus and fluid. This makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake. Caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infections, pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death in children worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation’s 2022 report, it claimed the lives of 740,180 children under the age of five in 2019.
Joselyn Nakitto is a staff writer at SML News Ug with passion in health, business, and current affairs. She can be contacted on 0709603158