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About 20 children die every hour due to pneumonia in India, reveal recent statistics. Despite efforts being made toward universal immunization, more than 25 million children in India were not immunized with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) in 2016.Pneumonia claims more lives in children around the world than any other infectious disease. A majority of those who die are from low and middle-income countries. If this continues, the disease is likely to claim 22,587 lives 2030.

It is an acute respiratory infection which affects the lungs. It causes difficulty in breathing and limits oxygen intake. It can be caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses and is a contagious disease. Pneumonia usually produces a fever, which in turn may cause sweating, chills, flushed skin, and general discomfort. Children can lose their appetite and seem less energetic than normal. Babies and toddlers may seem pale and limp, and cry more than usual.

Here are some tips to prevent pneumonia in children.

• Breastfeed regularly as it is a great way to boost immunity.
• Wash hands frequently with alcohol based sanitizer every time you blow your nose, use bathroom and before eating and preparation of food.
• Children younger than 5 should be vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia a common form of bacterial pneumonia.
• Keep children away from people suffering from colds, flu or other respiratory infections. This greatly increases their risk of catching an infection.

— Courtesy Indian Medical Association