World Pneumonia Day: a preventable disease that still kills 2.5 million a year

Pneumonia is a dangerous, life-threatening disease. Every year a huge number of people around the world die after contracting it. From newborn babies to people a hundred years old, anyone can be affected by pneumonia.

In 2023, 2.5 million people died of pneumonia worldwide. Every year the disease kills about 700,000 children under the age of five and around 1.1 million people over seventy.

People of all ages can get pneumonia, but children and the elderly are affected and die in greater numbers. Most pneumonia deaths, however, are preventable.

There was a time when the risk of dying from pneumonia was far higher. With the discovery of antibiotics — especially good-quality antibiotics — and their correct use, it has now become possible to reduce that risk considerably.

November 12 is World Pneumonia Day, and it is being observed in Bangladesh again this year. The theme of World Pneumonia Day 2026 is 'A New Era of Pneumonia Control'. The theme carries a clear message: pneumonia is no longer an unstoppable disease.

Three calls have been made to stop the loss of life. First, give priority to pneumonia prevention, with greater investment in better vaccines, balanced nutritious food and pollution-free air. Second, as soon as symptoms appear, diagnose the disease quickly through the necessary tests and start proper treatment. Third, reduce inequality in pneumonia treatment — creating alternative routes and fast delivery for remote areas where vaccines, treatment, medical supplies and information rarely arrive on time.

Pneumonia is caused by an infection of the lungs. Patients have difficulty breathing, along with cough, fever, chest pain and physical weakness. The disease can be caused by an infection of bacteria, a virus or a fungus.

People of any age can contract pneumonia, but the risk varies with age. Young children and the elderly are at the highest risk. The risk is also higher for people with low immunity, those suffering from malnutrition, smokers, people with lung disease, heart disease or diabetes, and those who spend long periods in polluted or smoke-filled air at home or outside.

Most pneumonia begins with fever and cough. The cough then worsens. Important symptoms include chest pain when coughing, fever with shivering, breathlessness and rapid breathing, chest pain when taking a deep breath, fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite. In children, warning signs include the lower chest drawing inward while breathing, refusal to eat and drowsiness.

Vaccination is an important weapon in preventing pneumonia, and the range of vaccines has expanded greatly. Pneumococcal, Hib, measles, whooping cough and flu vaccines greatly reduce the risk of pneumonia.

Other means of prevention include nutrition — feeding babies only breast milk for the first six months after birth, followed by balanced food appropriate to their age. Clean air matters too: reducing smoke indoors, avoiding smoking and staying alert to air pollution. Hygiene also helps — washing hands, covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, and keeping some distance from sick people.

Pneumonia treatment has advanced greatly. Many good, high-quality antibiotics and antifungal medicines are now available for pneumonia caused by bacterial or fungal infection, and advanced, quality diagnostic tests are now readily available in Bangladesh.

One point, however, is crucial: pneumonia must never be treated on one's own, or on the advice of medicine sellers, AI tools or Google.