After vector-borne diseases, Karachi witnesses rise in pneumonia cases

• Up to 30 pneumonia cases reported per day: NICH official.
• The disease causes about 70,000 deaths annually, Dr. Shafi reveals.
• Children under two, adults over 65 are most vulnerable.

KARACHI: After facing a rise in vector-borne and viral diseases, the country’s economic hub is now seeing a rise in pneumonia cases due to changes in the port city’s weather.

Up to 30 cases of pneumonia are reported every day, the emergency department at the National Institute of Children’s Health (NICH) has revealed. While Dr Imran Sarwar of Civil Hospital said that around 15 to 20 cases of pneumonia were being reported at the hospital on a daily basis.

The figures come after hospitals across the city reported increased numbers of dengue, malaria, chikungunya and other viral infections.

According to the Sindh Health Department, at least 411 suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported in Sindh, with 153 among those confirmed after diagnosis. Geo News reported earlier this week.

At least 1,724 dengue cases were reported in Sindh this year, of which 1,484 were recorded in Karachi alone. One death due to dengue was also reported in Sindh this year.

The health ministry said at least 2,22,239 malaria cases were reported in Sindh this year, with 1,768 diagnosed in Karachi.

Talking to you Geo News on the increased cases of pneumonia, the Secretary General of the Pakistan Pediatric Society, Dr. Khalid Shafi, said that pneumonia cases tend to increase during the months of October, November and December.

Highlighting the availability of vaccines for certain types of pneumonia, Dr Shafi said that around 70,000 deaths occur annually in Pakistan due to pneumonia, with children under two and adults over 65 being the most vulnerable.

Throwing light on the symptoms of pneumonia, he said the disease often presents with a cough that produces green, yellow or red mucus.

Other common symptoms include fever, sweating, chills, difficulty breathing and chest pain, especially when taking deep breaths or coughing, he added.