Pneumonia in Developing Countries (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

Causes of Pneumonia

What is pneumonia?

• Pneumonia is a respiratory illness which causes the lungs to fill with fluid, making breathing difficult

• It is a communicable disease which develops from a range of infections, such as influenza (also known as flu)

  • These may be caused by pathogens like bacteria, viruses or fungi

  • The pathogens are contagious and can spread when a person coughs or sneezes

• Pneumonia can be fatal, especially in young children, elderly people or people with weak immune systems

Global distribution of pneumonia

• Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death worldwide

  • In 2023, 2.5 million people died of pneumonia

• It kills more children than any other infectious disease

  • Over 610,000 children under the age of 5 years died of pneumonia in 2023 

• It is most prevalent and causes the most deaths in developing countries

  • This is mainly due to malnutrition, crowded living conditions and poor access to healthcare

• While pneumonia commonly causes hospitalisation in developed countries, there are lower death rates due to better access to healthcare and vaccinations

Causes of pneumonia

• Bacterial infections, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae

  • Bacterial pneumonia is more common and more severe than viral pneumonia

• Viral infections, such as influenza or COVID-19

  • Viral pneumonia is less likely to require hospitalisation than bacterial pneumonia

• Fungal infections

  • Fungal pneumonia is rarer and is most likely to affect people with weaker immune systems 

Common risk factors include:

• Age

  • Young children and people over 65 years are more at risk

• Weakened immune systems

  • For example, people suffering from HIV/AIDS or who have undergone chemotherapy are more vulnerable to pneumonia

• Respiratory conditions

  • People with respiratory illnesses such as asthma are more vulnerable to pneumonia

• Smoking

  • People who smoke are more likely to have damaged lungs making them more vulnerable to pneumonia

• Poor living conditions

  • Overcrowded living conditions make it easier for pneumonia to spread, while indoor air pollution can damage the lungs making people more vulnerable 

• Malnutrition

  • The body struggles to fight off infections without a balanced diet

 Effects of Pneumonia

Effects of pneumonia on people

• People suffering from pneumonia experience a range of symptoms:

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath

  • Fever 

  • Chills or sweating

  • Chest pain

  • An aching body

  • Tiredness

  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

  • Confusion, especially in elderly people

• If pneumonia is severe, symptoms worsen:

  • Difficulty breathing leading to a shortage of oxygen

  • Sepsis, where the immune system overreacts to an infection causing inflammation, tissue damage and ultimately organ failure

Effects of pneumonia on communities and countries

• Higher child mortality rates and lower life expectancies

  • The death of loved ones causes grief for families and negatively affects their health and well-being

• Poor health and long-term sickness

  • Children may not be able to go to school and so miss out on an education

    • This results in lower literacy rates and reduced earning potential as adults

    • This leads to a cycle of poverty

  • Loss of work days as parents care for sick children

    • This leads to a loss of income for the family

    • This could cause them to fall into poverty

• More sick days or people being unable to work

  • This reduces productivity and profits for businesses

  • This leads to lower tax income for the government

• More pressure on the health system

  • There may be a shortage of medication and doctors, leading to increased death rates

  • Money needs to be diverted away from other sectors, such as education, which could lead to slower progress in those areas

Strategies to Manage Pneumonia

Medical treatment

• Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pneumonia

  • Most people get better in 2 to 4 weeks

• Antiviral medications may be used to treat people with severe viral pneumonia

• Antifungal medications can treat pneumonia caused by a fungal infection

• Paracetamol reduces headaches and fevers

• People with severe pneumonia may be hospitalised

  • They may be given fluids to prevent dehydration, oxygen to help them breathe and sometimes steroids to treat the infection 

• Vaccinations can help to prevent pneumonia

  • For example, vaccinations against infections such as influenza, whooping cough and COVID-19 can prevent the development of pneumonia

  • Pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for children younger than 24 months

• Community health workers help to control the spread of pneumonia

  • Children are likely to be diagnosed and treated more quickly, improving survival rates

Healthy lifestyles

• A balanced and nutritious diet

  • This strengthens the immune system, helping people to fight off infections

• Good hygiene 

  • Frequent handwashing and covering your mouth when you cough helps to reduce the spread

• Giving up smoking

  • This prevents lung damage and reduces vulnerability to pneumonia

• Reduce indoor air pollution

  • By providing clean, affordable indoor stoves