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14 February 2012
LEGAZPI CITY –- The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here urged the public to take all precautionary measures to prevent serious respiratory infection as pneumonia remains the top killer disease in the Bicol region.
Dr. Ferchito Avelino, DOH V assistant regional director, said a DOH study in 2010 on the top 10 leading causes of death in the region showed that pneumonia was the most fatal, on top of heart diseases, stroke, and tuberculosis among Bicolanos.
The same study revealed that 2,971 people died due to pneumonia, followed closely by hypertensive heart diseases with 2,882 deaths; Ischemic heart diseases -- 1,682; stroke -- 1,680; tuberculosis -- 1,544; Neoplasm/tumor with 1,457; accidents -- 1,427; trauma/injuries -- 1,221; diabetes -- 804; and kidney diseases with 803 deaths.
Avelino said an average of 3,708 deaths was recorded since 2005 due to pneumonia making this disease the leading cause of death.
The study also revealed that, aside from pneumonia, other top killer diseases for the past five years were heart diseases, strokes, and tuberculosis.
Asked if the DOH regularly conducts study on the leading cause of disease morbidity and mortality, Avelino said his office conducts regular studies.
However, the 2011 study is not yet available for they are still in the process of consolidating data coming from the various provincial health offices.
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung tissue affecting one or both sides of the chest that often occurs as a result of an infection caused by a lot of different micro-organisms – viruses (eg respiratory syncytial virus), bacteria, fungi (eg histoplasmosis), parasites as well as corrosive chemicals breathed into the lungs or toxic smoke inhalation from a fire.
A study of the World Health Organization (WHO) meanwhile reveals that pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children worldwide that kills an estimated 1.4 million children under the age of five years every year – more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. (Marlon A Loterte-PIA V/Albay)
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