GP urges Cork public to have ‘pneumo awareness’ this winter

GP and clinical lecturer Dr Sumi Dunne is urging the Cork public to become pneumo-aware this winter as newly-released research shows that 77% of people know nothing about Pneumococcal Disease.

Research carried out by Ipsos B & A on behalf of MSD Ireland examined the awareness and knowledge of the condition, also known as ‘Pneumo’, and showed that awareness levels of the disease and related vaccination programmes remain quite low in Ireland.

‘Pneumo’ is a major cause of illness and death in Ireland, particularly among the very young, older people, and those with a weakened immune system.

A pneumococcal infection can cause many types of illness that range from mild to very severe, including pneumonia, meningitis, sinus, ear, bone, and blood infections.

According to the HSE, pneumococcal infection is responsible for 50% of community-acquired pneumonia and bacteraemia where the overall mortality rate can be as high as 25%, placing a significant burden on hospitals each year during the damper winter months.

Emphasising the low awareness levels, fewer than one in four people (24%) said that they have some understanding of ‘pneumo’ disease.

One in five (20%) say they have little knowledge and just 3% say they know a lot. Of those surveyed, 77% of people were found to have a lack of awareness of the disease, with 41% saying they have no awareness of the disease at all and 36% saying they have heard about it, but do not know anything about it.

Dr Dunne, who will be known to many through her time as an expert health adviser on TV series Operation Transformation, said that streptococcus pneumoniae ‘pneumo’ is the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia.

“Globally, and here in Ireland, it is a major cause of illness and death, particularly among the very young, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system,” she said.

Dr Dunne encouraged people to protect themselves and their loved ones and to focus on the prevention of the disease this winter, with research showing that 73% of those surveyed had never heard of the national vaccination programme for pneumococcal disease.

“‘Pneumo’ disease is currently compounding the problems of our already overburdened hospitals and increasing dependence on medicines, like antibiotics,” said Dr Dunne.

“I would strongly encourage those with a weakened immune system, or anyone over the age of 65, to protect themselves and their loved ones over the next few weeks and months, and to focus on the prevention of ‘pneumo’ disease.”

CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland, Eilís Ní Chaithnía, encouraged people to become aware of the impact these infections can have on their health and wellbeing.

“We encourage everyone to speak with their GP or pharmacist to learn more about how to protect themselves this season,” she said.