Professor explained: 'Covid-19 pneumonia has started again'

Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Şevket Özkaya, in his statements on the occasion of "November 12 World Pneumonia Day", stated that pneumonia cases started to be seen again along with COVID-19 cases. Pointing out that pneumonia continues to be among the main causes of deaths due to infectious diseases in the world, Özkaya noted that approximately 2.5 million people die due to pneumonia every year around the world, and approximately 610 thousand of these deaths occur in children under the age of 5.

"PNEUMANE MAY CAUSE LIFE DANGER"

Prof. stated that everyone can get pneumonia, but some groups are at higher risk. Dr. Özkaya; He underlined that young children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases should be careful. Özkaya stated that lung, heart, kidney and liver diseases, diabetes and diseases that weaken the immune system increase the risk, and made the following warnings:

"Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and general weakness. When the disease progresses, it can cause serious complications such as respiratory failure and sepsis, and even death. The risk of death is especially high in people over the age of 65. Early diagnosis and treatment are of great importance in serious pneumococcal infections."

"WHEN GETTING THE FLU VACCINE, ALSO ASK ABOUT THE PNEUMANESE VACCINE"

Stating that vaccination plays a critical role in protecting against pneumonia, Özkaya stated that people who have had the flu vaccine should also get information from their doctors about the pneumococcal vaccine. Reminding that the immune system naturally weakens with age, Özkaya emphasized that even healthy adults over the age of 65 are at risk of pneumococcal pneumonia, and pointed out that pneumococcal pneumonia can occur not only in winter but at any time of the year.

"COLD WEATHER DOES NOT DIRECTLY CAUSE PNEUMANE"

Reminding that families warn their children not to dress thinly in cold weather, Özkaya said that cold weather does not directly cause pneumonia, but it can increase the risk of infection. Stating that pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, Özkaya noted that cold and dry air can weaken the body's defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract.

Özkaya stated that spending more time in closed and poorly ventilated environments during the winter months facilitates the spread of infections; He added that viral infections such as flu, RSV and cold can affect the lungs and pave the way for secondary bacterial pneumonia.