Pneumonia caused 22,936 deaths in Portugal between 2020 and 2024, averaging 12 deaths per day, according to data from the Instituto Nacional de Estatística cited by CNN Portugal.
The infection inflames lung tissue and alveoli, filling small air sacs with fluid or pus and restricting oxygen flow into the bloodstream. It remains the leading cause of death among respiratory diseases in the country. Annual fatalities show a rising trajectory over the five-year period, climbing from 4,359 deaths in 2020 to 3,765 in 2021, 4,488 in 2022, 5,042 in 2023, and reaching 5,282 in 2024.
Bacterial infections are driving the highest risk across the country. José Coutinho Costa of the Portuguese Society of Pneumology told CNN Portugal that Streptococcus pneumoniae presents the most severe threat, alongside Haemophilus influenzae and Legionella.
Other cases stem from viral pathogens including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2.
Fungal pneumonia occurs more rarely, while aspiration pneumonia happens when food, liquids, or vomit enter the lungs of unconscious patients or those with swallowing difficulties. Transmission for most types occurs through respiratory droplets spread by talking, coughing, or sneezing.
Weakened immune systems increase susceptibility, placing young children under two and adults over 65 at high risk due to developing or declining immune function. Chronic conditions involving the respiratory, cardiac, renal, or metabolic systems, such as diabetes and obesity, also heighten vulnerability.
Symptoms often appear silently in children and older adults, presenting without high fever, intense cough, or chest pain. Fragile patients may display only fatigue, lethargy, and altered mental states. Typical cases involve a dry or productive cough, fever, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and chest pain, alongside muscle aches and headaches.
Preventative measures include respiratory etiquette, frequent handwashing, avoiding crowded areas, and wearing masks during illness. Vaccination serves as a critical defense against severe outcomes. “Adopting respiratory etiquette, washing hands frequently, since hands carry numerous germs, avoiding crowds, and wearing a mask when sick,” said José Coutinho Costa.
Immunization introduces an inactive agent that trains the immune system to build defenses against bacterial strains and related conditions like pneumococcal meningitis. Additional protection comes from influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause, requiring antibiotics for bacterial infections or antivirals for viral cases. Mild conditions may resolve with rest, increased fluid intake, and fever reducers. Severe cases require hospital admission, oxygen therapy, and ventilatory support. “The treatment of pneumonia depends primarily on its cause, because if it is bacterial, antibiotics are necessary,” said José Coutinho Costa.
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