Abstrakt
Respiratory disease is the major cause of childhood mortality and morbidity worldwide. The spectrum of disease ranges from infectious diseases like pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and tuberculosis to non-communicable diseases like asthma and chronic respiratory illnesses.
Theoverwhelmingburdenofchildhoodrespiratorydisease and associated deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, where appropriate resources to prevent, diag- noseandmanagesuchdiseasesareoftenunavailable.Inthe last decade there have been encouraging advances in reducing childhood mortality and achieving the Millenni- um Development Goal 4 (which aims for a two thirds reduction in under-5 mortality by 2015 from mortality levels in 1990). Nevertheless, 6.5 million children still die each year before their fifth birthday, with approximately 20% of deaths due to pneumonia.
Other associated respiratory causes of death such as pertussis, neonatal respiratory diseases and HIV-associated lung disease further contribute to mortality. Recent data suggest that nearly 1 million children acquire tuberculosis annually.
Further, even in high income countries, where such infections have been effectively prevented and reduced, childhood respiratory diseases are a major cause for health care utilization and of chronic illness. As childhood mortality declines, so there is an emerging global focus on non-communicable diseases and morbidity.
Importantly asthma is the commonest non communicable disease in children and adolescents globally.