Prevent Pneumonia From Early Childhood, Check Out The Importance Of Child Protection From Environment To Immunization

JAKARTA - Pneumonia or pneumonia is one of the most dangerous lower respiratory tract infection diseases, especially in children under the age of five. This disease causes inflammation of the lung tissue so that oxygen exchange is disrupted.

As a result, sufferers experience difficulty breathing and, in severe cases, can lead to death. The World Health Organization (WHO) even calls pneumonia a 'fortten killer' because it often escapes attention even though it is the main cause of child mortality in various developing countries.

A subspecialist pediatrician from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), dr. Wahyuni Indawati, Sp.A (K), emphasized that protection of children from the risk of pneumonia must be carried out thoroughly, starting from prevention at the family level to healthy environmental support.

"Prevention measures start early, namely by providing exclusive breast milk, ensuring adequate nutritional intake so that babies are not born premature, and creating a pollution-free environment both at home and outside the home," he said at the Media Session World Pneumonia Day 2025 event in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

According to Wahyuni, simple efforts such as providing exclusive breast milk during the first six months of infant life have proven to reduce the risk of pneumonia by up to 20 percent. In addition, the fulfillment of balanced nutrition since pregnancy and child growth is also important, considering that malnutrition is a factor that accounts for about 63 percent of pneumonia cases in Indonesia.

Domestic air pollution, for example, due to cigarette smoke or the use of solid fuel, contributes to about 17 percent of cases. Therefore, children must also be kept away from exposure to cigarette smoke, including as passive smokers.

Furthermore, Wahyuni emphasized the importance of vaccination as a specific form of protection against pneumonia. The recommended vaccine includes Streptococcus pneumoniae (PCV), influenza, and immunization of other diseases that can cause pneumonia complications such as wavy and pertusis.

"Vaccination can reduce the risk of infection by 50 percent, and the protective effect can be increased by repetition according to the immunization schedule set by the government," he explained.

He also reminded children with low immune system, such as people with HIV or chronic diarrhea, it is necessary to get special attention so as not to be easily infected.

This protection effort is in line with the global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia program, which encourages comprehensive steps in reducing the death toll from pneumonia in children under five years of age.

Wahyuni added, recognizing symptoms from the start is the key to preventing fatality. Children who experience cough accompanied by fast breathing, shortness of breath, or visible chest wall attractions when breathing must be immediately checked to health facilities.

"The sooner it is recognized and treated, the greater the chance that children will recover without severe complications," he said.

He also closes with a message that parents complete their basic immunizations, maintain environmental cleanliness, apply cough ethics, and get used to a healthy lifestyle so that the risk of pneumonia transmission can be suppressed as much as possible.