Pneumonia still a worry | Bangkok Post: lifestyle

WELLNESS

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung caused by the build up of excess fluids and pus in the air sacs as a result of an immune response to infectious agents that could be virus, bacteria, or fungus. The build up of fluids cause the patients to suffer from severe cough and experience breathing difficulty. The disease is found at a higher number between June and March. Statistical data from 2001-2010 revealed an increase in the number of pneumonia cases each year. Children below the age of 4 have the highest infection rate and the elderly above the age of 65 being the second highest. Therefore these two groups of individuals should take extra care and precautions.

TRANSMISSION

1. Inhalation of the infectious agents that are contained in the air as a respiratory droplets secreted by infected patients. High population density is a major contributing factor.