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10 - Pneumonia and other acute lower respiratory tract infections in children

from Section 2 - Mother and child health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2013

By
Martin W. Weber  and
E. Kim Mulholland
Edited by
David Mabey ,
Geoffrey Gill ,
Eldryd Parry ,
Martin W. Weber  and
Christopher J. M. Whitty
David Mabey
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Geoffrey Gill
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool
Eldryd Parry
Affiliation:
Tropical Health Education Trust
Martin W. Weber
Affiliation:
World Health Organization, Jakarta
Christopher J. M. Whitty
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
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Summary

The problem in Africa

Minor viral respiratory infections are common in childhood, while pneumonia is the most important cause of serious illness and death in young children globally. It is estimated that pneumonia causes almost 2 million deaths in children under 5 years of age each year. In African countries where malaria is an important problem, pneumonia causes a similar number of child deaths (Fig. 7.1). Pneumonia is generally a more common cause of death in those countries that have the highest infant mortality rates. Risk factors are malnutrition and exposure to indoor smoke, and lack of access to basic medical care is behind most pneumonia deaths. This remains a problem in many African countries. Untreated, the case-fatality rate is particularly high in the first 6 months of life.

Wheezing disorders are less common in African countries than in developed parts of the world. Acute bronchiolitis, usually due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), is an important cause of severe respiratory infections in young infants, yet asthma remains uncommon, except in urban areas. Viral laryngotracheobronchitis (‘croup’) is uncommon in African countries, so an acute presentation with upper airways obstruction should prompt a search for more serious conditions such as abscess, foreign body or diphtheria.

Type
Chapter
Information
Principles of Medicine in Africa , pp. 123 - 134
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2013

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References

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