Childhood pneumonia in developing countries.
Pneumonia is a widespread and common infectious lung disease that causes inflammation, which can lead to reduced oxygenation, shortness of breath, and death. An estimated nearly 1.2 million children younger than 5 years died in 2011 from pneumonia. Most of these deaths occured in developing countries where access to care is limited and interventions that have improved care in developed countries are scarce. Despite substantial increases in our understanding of the clinical syndrome of pneumonia and its aetiologies, its accurate diagnosis is challenging when clinical indicators are relied on, and improves only modestly with addition of laboratory, microbiological, or radiographical tests. Prevention programmes and treatment guidelines have led to impressive reductions in disease, but children remain at risk of misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. Research to address challenges in the aetiological diagnosis of pneumonia and widespread implementation of treatment interventions beyond vaccines and antibiotics are necessary to mitigate the burden of pneumonia and improve child survival.
Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: rasa@bu.edu.
Rasa
R
Izadnegahdar
Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa; Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Adam L
AL
Cohen
Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Keith P
KP
Klugman
Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Shamim A
SA
Qazi
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019141:Respiratory System Agents