Population aging increases the number of people with pneumococcal diseases

There are many cases where patients are living normally, but after just one episode of pneumococcal pneumonia, they become exhausted, have reduced lung function, and are dependent on caregivers...

Dr. Thu Huong shares information at the press conference - Photo: N.MY

Vietnam and many other countries face a paradox in the treatment and prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia. The cost of treating a case of pneumonia can be up to 710 million VND in critical and complicated cases, not to mention the cost of rehabilitation and the efforts of family members to care for it.

The current health system focuses its resources on curing diseases. Proactive prevention with simple measures would be much more cost-effective but is not given much attention.

This information was provided by Dr. Le Thi Thu Huong, head of the respiratory department of Gia Dinh People's Hospital, at the press conference "Raising awareness of pneumococcal prevention for a healthy Vietnam", organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Asthma - Allergy - Immunology - Clinical on August 24 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Dr. Thu Huong said that Gia Dinh People's Hospital has received many cases of patients around 70 years old, living normally with their families, but after just one bout of pneumonia caused by pneumococcus, they have become exhausted, have reduced lung function, and are dependent on caregivers...

Associate Professor Cao Huu Nghia, head of the biomedical sciences department at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, said that pneumococcus, with more than 100 serotypes, is an infectious agent that causes about 1.6 million deaths worldwide each year.

In Vietnam, pneumococcus is the leading cause of pneumonia (accounting for about 50%). Pneumococcus is also the cause of sinusitis, otitis media, etc., and even invasive diseases such as sepsis, meningitis, and infectious pneumonia.

Pneumococcus lives in the nose and throat of both adults and children. It can be found in 5-90% of healthy people.

"The aging population and increase in chronic diseases will lead to increased rates of pneumococcal infection and treatment costs," Associate Professor Huu Nghia emphasized.

Children under 5 years old, people aged 50 and over, people with underlying diseases such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes... are at high risk of contracting diseases caused by pneumococcus.

How to prevent diseases caused by pneumococcus

To prevent diseases caused by pneumococcus, doctors advise people to have regular general health check-ups to detect early and manage chronic diseases well.

Wash your hands regularly, wear a mask when necessary, avoid crowded places. Have a nutritious diet, increase vitamins and minerals to help improve the body's resistance, stop smoking, limit alcohol consumption, clean the surrounding environment, get vaccinated...

THUY DUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gia-hoa-dan-so-lam-so-nguoi-mac-cac-benh-do-phe-cau-gia-tang-20250824161627364.htm