Child Mortality: Pneumonia
Background on Pneumonia Mortality
15% of all child deaths in 2017 were caused by pneumonia. In 1990, this number was more than 2 million. But in 2017, this number has fallen more than 66%. The major contributors to childhood pneumonia are childhood wasting (chronic malnutrition), air pollution, poor sanitation, and poverty. But there have been developments in vaccines and antibiotics allowing them to be cheaper and more accessible.
Some of the most impacted areas from pneumonia are Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast-Asia. Pneumonia is often called “a disease of poverty”. The poorest and least fortunate children are often the most who are at risk.
By 2030, pneumonia is predicted to kill almost 6 million more children, unless action is taken.
Intro to Pneumonia
Pneumonia can come from a multitude of different pathological agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Initially, these pathogens will infect the upper respiratory tract. But once this is compromised, the pathogens will move towards the lower respiratory tract, leading to pneumonia. The majority of infections are due to two main types of…
