A Study of Community acquired viral pneumonia in children

Abstract

One of the commonest serious diseases in children is community acquired pneumonia. It accounts for approximately five million deaths per year among children less than five years old in the developing countries alone (Sinaniotis, 2004). Acute respiratory infections overall incidence is similar in developing and developed countries. The incidence of pneumonia is 10 times higher in the developing world than in developed countries (McCracken, 2000). According to one of the child health epidemiology reference group related to WHO publication cited that incidence of community-acquired pneumonia among children less than 5 years in developed countries is nearly 0.026 episodes per child-year (Rudan I et al., 2004). CAP is defined as acquiring pneumonia outside a hospital or health care facility. Starting within 48 hours following admission or patient having pneumonia without any characteristics of healthcare-associated pneumonia (i.e. hospitalized for 2 or more days within 90 days of infection; accommodated in a nursing home or health care facility; have taken recent IV antibiotic therapy, chemotherapy, within the last 30 days (Mandell GL et al., 2010). Acute viral respiratory infections became apparent through large epidemiologic studies done soon after cell culture techniques were available. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses (PIVs), and influenza viruses were initially