RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
World Lung Foundation http://www.ariatlas.org/maps?id=0024
World Lung Foundation http://www.ariatlas.org/maps?id=0003
http://www.ariatlas.org/data_research/appendix_b
Acute Respiratory Infections
http://www.ariatlas.org/data_research/appendix_b
Important Viral Causes of Lower
Respiratory Infections
Influenza
Para-influenza
Respiratory syncytial virus
Adenovirus
Human metapneumovirus (2001) common
in comprised children and elderly persons
No etiologic agent found (33%)
Important Bacterial Causes of
Lower Respiratory Infections
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae
Staphlococcus aureus
No etiologic agent found (33%)
Common Risk Factors for Acute
Respiratory Infections
Poverty
Crowding
Low parental education
Low birth weight
Non-breastfeeding of infants
Multiple causes and few vaccines
RISK FACTORS FOR ACUTE
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
•Smoking – active and passive
•Air pollution – indoor and outdoor
•Crowding e.g family size, day care centers,
refugee camps, poor housing
•Malnutrition
•Low birth weight
•Acute lower respiratory infections @ < 2 years
•Socioeconomic status
Barriers to Prevention and Control
of Lower Respiratory Infections
Few vaccines for prevention
Difficult to change major risk factors
Limited access to appropriate care in
areas of highest prevalence
No etiologic agent found
Cost of pneumococcol, rotavirus, and
hemophilus vaccines
DIAGNOSIS OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS
IN RESPIRATORY DISEASE
Traditional:
Culture
Antigen detection
Recent molecular strategies:
Nucleic acid amplification technique (NAAT)
DNA microarray::
 Streptococcal
 Chlamydia
 Coxiella
 Legionella
 Pseudomonas
 Atypical bacteria