Acute Respiratory Infections
Acute respiratory infections particularly pneumonia are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines and in many other developing countries. For the past weeks, majority of our OPD cases in our pediatric clinics are of acute respiratory infections (ARI).
There are factors identified for the increase in respiratory infections and these are:
– household crowding
– malnutrition
– non- compliance with childhood immunization.
The causative agents of ARI are complex and heterogenous groups of microbial organisms. This ARI is divided into:
1. Upper respiratory infections
2. Lower respiratory infections
The upper respiratory infections includes:
– Pharyngitis
– adenitis
– epiglottitis
– mastoiditis
– otitis media
– sinusitis
– peritonsillar abscess
– retropharyngeal abscess
While the lower respiratory infections include the following:
– bronchiolitis
– croup
– pneumonia
– tracheobronchitis
– atelectasis
– empyema
– lung abscess
– mediastinitis
– and pericarditis.
For the pediatric population, it is highly recommended that pure breastfeeding be given for the first 2 years of life, mothers should bring their children for vaccinations ( both primary and booster doses) and for infants 6 months and up, they can already get the flu vaccines. Flu vaccines are better given when the vaccine is available and before the start of the flu season. Usually, flu vaccines change every year and they expire by December of that year. So, to be better protected, be vaccinated!