Mangaluru: “40 percent of the patients who are admitting in the hospitals are due to the problem in respiratory system and it is due to the increase in air pollution,” said Indian Academy of Paediatrics Mangaluru Unit President Dr Ananth Pai.

He was addressing the gathering in a programme held on the occasion of World Pneumonia Day on Monday in a private hotel in the city.

“Various respiratory diseases have caused because of excess air pollution, population, un-cleanliness and less awareness among mothers. Basic symptoms of pneumonia are dry cough, chest pain, fever, shivering, breathing problems and nausea etc. This disease can be identifies by taking the X-Ray of the lungs,” he said.

He further said that World Health Organisation (WHO) has given some norms for the prevention of children from pneumonia. According to that Vitamin A, breast feeding, avoiding pollution, personal cleanliness and increasing immunity power in the body are.

“44% of pneumonia cases are reported from five countries and India is one among those countries. WHO has recommended including Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine in the list of vaccines to cure pneumonia. From this 7-8 million cases of pneumonia can be avoided in the world and 0.3 to 0.5 million death rate can be decreased,” he added.

Unit Secretary Dr Shriyan was present during the occasion.