Pneumonia, leading cause of childhood mortality

Pneumonia, leading cause of childhood mortality
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, DECEMBER 16: Acute respiratory infection, primarily pneumonia is a major cause of illness among infants. It is also the leading cause of childhood mortality throughout the world, opine experts. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics can prevent a large proportion of deaths due to these causes. In India an estimated 19 per cent of the children under three years of age suffer from acute respiratory infection, indicates the National Family Health Survey (1998-99).

Interestingly acute respiratory infections (cough accompanied by short rapid breathing) are more common amongst boys than girls and among children living in rural areas than urban areas. Children of mothers who have atleast completed high school have a lower occurrence of acute respiratory infection than other children.

The study indicates that families are more concerned with the ailments of the male child than the female child.

There is higher prevalence of fever among children below six months. It strikes the young irrespective of the demographic or socio economic characteristics.

Diarrhoea is the second most important killer of children under the age of five years. Deaths due to acute diarrhoea are often caused by dehydration i.e. loss of water and electrolytes.

The signs warranting immediate medical attention include repeated watery stools, repeated vomitting, blood in the stools, fever, marked thirst, not eating or drinking well and not getting better.

Medical attention is a must if your child exhibits any of these symptoms. The use of antibiotics and antidiarrhoel drugs are not usually recommended for the treatment of childhood diarrhorea. Studies indicate that the use of unnecessary drugs are widespread amongst all socioeconomic classes. It is particularly common for children of more educated mothers and for children belonging to the upper middle class.

(Haima Deshpande)