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Child pneumonia - focus on the Western Pacific Region
T K P Nguyen1, T H Tran2, C L Roberts3
1Discipline of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Australia; Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, Da Nang, Viet Nam.
Insights
Pneumonia remains a major global threat to young children, causing significant deaths, especially in the Western Pacific Region. Evolving causes and increased vaccination necessitate updated management strategies for child pneumonia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Pneumonia is the primary cause of mortality in children under five globally.
- The WHO Western Pacific Region faces a substantial burden of childhood pneumonia, with high mortality rates in specific countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the global pneumonia disease burden.
- To examine the etiology and management of pneumonia, focusing on the WHO Western Pacific Region.
- To highlight the impact of conjugate vaccines and socio-economic development on pneumonia trends.
Main Methods:
- Review of global pneumonia disease burden.
- Analysis of etiological factors and management practices.
- Focus on data from the WHO Western Pacific Region.
Main Results:
- In 2011, the Western Pacific Region recorded 61,900 pneumonia deaths in children under five.
- Over 75% of these deaths were concentrated in Cambodia, China, Laos, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Viet Nam.
- The etiological landscape is shifting from Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae towards viruses and atypical bacteria, influenced by vaccine introduction and development.
Conclusions:
- Traditional pneumonia case management may need revision due to increased conjugate vaccine uptake.
- Risk reduction, enhanced vaccination, improved hypoxemia management, and antibiotic stewardship are crucial.
- Addressing the changing epidemiology of childhood pneumonia is vital for reducing mortality in the Western Pacific Region.
Abstract:
Worldwide, pneumonia is the leading cause of death in infants and young children (aged <5 years). We provide an overview of the global pneumonia disease burden, as well as the aetiology and management practices in different parts of the world, with a specific focus on the WHO Western Pacific Region. In 2011, the Western Pacific region had an estimated 0.11 pneumonia episodes per child-year with 61,900 pneumonia-related deaths in children less than 5 years of age. The majority (>75%) of pneumonia deaths occurred in six countries; Cambodia, China, Laos, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Viet Nam. Historically Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were the commonest causes of severe pneumonia and pneumonia-related deaths in young children, but this is changing with the introduction of highly effective conjugate vaccines and socio-economic development. The relative contribution of viruses and atypical bacteria appear to be increasing and traditional case management approaches may require revision to accommodate increased uptake of conjugated vaccines in the Western Pacific region. Careful consideration should be given to risk reduction strategies, enhanced vaccination coverage, improved management of hypoxaemia and antibiotic stewardship.
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