RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

World Lung Foundation

World Lung Foundation

Acute Respiratory Infections

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 < 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