There are three specific micronutrients that are especially effective for preventing pneumonia:

* Zinc is known to be associated with weakened immune function and, thus, vulnerability to serious infectious disease. Many studies have shown that, in developing countries, giving children 20-30 mg/day of zinc will almost halve pneumonia rates (J Pediatr, 1999; 135: 689-97).

However, even in the developed world, children are often zinc-deficient. Agriculture practices, and food refining and processing have all conspired to reduce the average zinc intake in developed countries to about a third below the recommended daily minimum (J Orthomolec Med, 1995; 10: 149-64).

In cases of pneumonia, zinc appears to work by reducing lung inflammation and obstruction to the airways (Lancet, 2004; 363: 1683-8). Signs of zinc deficiency include poor wound-healing, hair loss, skin rashes, night-blindness, and impaired taste and smell.

* Vitamin C is another powerful antipneumonia weapon. A major review of over 60 separate studies by Professor Harri Hemila, of the University of Helsinki, concluded that there is a substantial and consistent benefit from vitamin C. Intakes of more than 1 g/day (which is around 20 times the recommended daily allowance) have been proved to cut pneumonia rates almost in half, especially among the elderly - even in serious cases requiring hospitalisation (Int J Tuberc Lung Dis, 1999; 3: 756-61).

* Vitamin A is recommended as it appears to be a potent infection fighter in cases of lung disease, although a vast majority of clinical trials suggest that it doesn’t seem to work against pneumonia per se (Acta Paediatr, 2004; 93: 1437-42). Nevertheless, high doses of vitamin A have proven to be invaluable in measles, helping to prevent complications of the disease, one of which is pneumonia (Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2002; 1: CD001479).

PNEUMONIA TREATMENTS Blood and swab lab tests are used to determine the causal organism, as this will affect the type of treatment. Pneumonia due to bacteria is generally treated with antibiotics, the type depending on the organism causing the infection. However, bacterial resistance is a growing problem, making the use of these drugs futile for many infectious diseases, including pneumonia. If the infection is severe, and especially in very young and old people, hospitalisation with antibiotics and fluids given intravenously, and extra oxygen via a mask, may be required. Fungal pneumonias are treated with specific antifungal drugs, but nothing is given for viral pneumonias - the immune system is left to get on with the job. Alternatively, try:

* Pleurisy root was used by Native American tribes as a herbal remedy for many infections of the lung; indeed, this plant was an official medicine in the US Pharmacopoeia until 1905. However, there is no evidence from clinical studies to support its use.

* Traditional Chinese Medicine has been shown to be very effective in childhood pneumonia. In a study involving more than 50 children, 80 per cent of them were completely cured by a combined treatment of acupuncture and herbs such as xie bai san and banxia houpo tang (J Tradit Chin Med, 1998; 18: 174-7).