Jakarta, IO – Tens of thousands of toddlers in East Java suffered from acute lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia) this year, reoorted the provincial health department.
East Java Health Department head Erwin Astha Triyono said the number of pneumonia cases among toddlers in East Java reached 45,041 during January-September period. Several of them have died, per CNNIndonesia, Wednesday (25/10).
“By September the number will be 45,041 or 32 percent of the estimated total of 140,578 pneumonia cases in children under five,” said Erwin.
However, Erwin said this number was lower than cases in 2022 which affected 92,118 toddlers. He pointed out that pneumonia is generally influenced by a number of environmental factors which can cause a decrease in the baby’s immunity system.
Some of these factors include air pollution, overcrowded home, smoking habits indoor and unsanitary environment.
“To prevent this, keep babies away from cough sufferers, carry out complete immunizations, provide exclusive breast milk until six months of age, and sufficient nutritional and balanced diet,” he advised.
Erwin also said that the government is carrying out a number of mitigation measures, such as holding pneumonia case management meetings for clinicians and ISPA program managers, intensifying promotion of healthy living and validating data. (un)