Infectious diseases as a cause of global childhood mortality and morbidity: Progress in recognition, prevention, and treatment

Child mortality and morbidity are far too high with almost 1% of all children around the world dying each year! Children living in underdeveloped countries (also referred to as “low-income”) and in those areas where crime and military actions are part of everyday life, come under increased threat from disease, starvation, trauma, and death. Infectious diseases are responsible for more than half of childhood deaths and an even greater level of morbidity. This article will review deaths in children, generally in those less than 5 years of age, from pneumonia and other respiratory infections (including bacterial pneumonia, pertussis, viral pneumonia respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles, and influenza, tuberculosis (TB), bacterial and viral enteric disease (including enterotoxic (ETEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Shigella, cholera, infections, rotavirus norovirus, and malaria. Factors influencing disease epidemiology and mortality especially in underdeveloped countries will be noted. Much progress has been made in decreasing infectious disease morbidity and mortality during the last few decades, but much more progress can and should be made. The role of decreasing air pollution, improving sanitation, nutrition, mosquito control, immunization rates, and use of antimicrobial agents will be discussed.