Threat of Pneumonia Continues to be High for Children

New data due to be released by the World Health Organization will reveal two cases for the high rate of pneumonia in kids, which continues to be the leading killer among children the world over.

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib] infections are being cited as the leading causes of pneumonia in kids by the report.

"Our findings underscore the urgent need for prevention efforts throughout the developing world," said Kate O`Brien, primary author of the pneumococcal study and Associate Professor of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "The need for vaccination and improved treatment is particularly urgent in Africa and Asia, which together account for 95% of all pneumococcal deaths."

Data released with the report show that in 2000 there were 826,000 deaths from pneumonia worldwide among kids out of an estimated 14.5 million infections. India has the highest number of cases followed by followed by China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"In areas of the world where access to quality care is limited, the use of pneumococcal vaccine is particularly necessary to limit disease and save lives," said Thomas Cherian, Coordinator of the WHO Expanded Programme on Immunization. "Implementing pneumococcal vaccine is critical if developing countries are to achieve United Nations Millennium Development Goal 4 for child mortality reduction."

The report will be available in this week's The Lancet.

Source-Medindia
RAS