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Alert due to increased deaths from pneumonia
Specialists indicate that the infection becomes worse consequences in people over 50 years and recommend the pneumococcal vaccine to reduce impacts
Pneumonia in people over 50 years is "a very serious health problem" and mortality from this disease shows "a slight upward trend," although the pneumococcal vaccine "can noticeably lower the impact" of this infection, as expert opinion.
"The severity acquired pneumonia is a serious problem, even in otherwise healthy people who never imagined they could get it. The mortality caused by pneumococcal disease has a slight upward trend, because in general the population is increasingly long-lived" said Carlos Luna specialist, pulmonologist and professor of the Department of Medicine, Pulmonary guidance of the University of Buenos Aires.
But in return, Luna, who is also head of the Pulmonary Division of the Hospital de Clinicas Jose de San Mart?n.subray? that "vaccination, surely contributes to lower the impact of pneumococcal disease," and stated that "it is necessary sensitize the general public and physicians about the importance of more extensive vaccination to improve prevention. "
As part of the 8th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases, held in Foz do Iguazu, Luna said in talks with Argentine News: "There is a lack of general public and physicians about these diseases. Only now warnings about the possibility of preventable through vaccination. "
In Argentina, was recently approved by the local health authorities the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate for use in adults, with a single dose.
This is a vaccine that is indicated in patients over 50 years of age for active immunization to prevent pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the 13 serotypes of pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) contained in the vaccine.
"We did a job at the teaching hospital revealed that had been vaccinated only 7 percent of the population which had directed to do so, because pneumococcal disease had been confirmed. This figure is very low, and we must work to reverse . Having preventive measures and knowing the consequences of these diseases, do not understand why more is not prevented by vaccination, "said Moon.
Although the incidence of pneumonia in Latin America is important, generally not considered a reportable disease, so cases are dismissed.
Three of the largest countries in the region collected the most data: Argentina, with 120,000 cases reported annually, Brazil and Chile 1,920,000 cases per year with 170,000 cases each year.
According to the Ministry of Health in Argentina each year 22,000 children get pneumococcal pneumonia, while more than 18,000 adults over 50 who die from pneumonia.
Until recently, we used polysaccharide vaccines for the prevention, with mixed results, yet they are very few people over 50 who are vaccinated, even knowing how bad it could get this disease.
A national survey conducted by IPSOS over 1,200 people from 18 to 70 years in September 2011 showed that while half of respondents knew of vaccines to prevent pneumonia, just one in 10 of them had been vaccinated.
About 13-valent vaccine, Luna remarked that "has a much greater potential than before and it is anticipated that it will work better, both in children and older adults"