Acute respiratory infections

Abstract

Reviews what is known about the patterns and determinants of ARI in sub-Saharan Africa. Severe data deficiencies exist. Only three estimates of ARI incidence and six estimates of the pneumonia mortality rate were found for the entire region. Eighteen of the 39 countries comprising sub-Saharan Africa are not represented at all, and in many others the available information is minimal. The majority of studies focus on young children. The data reviewed leave no doubt that acute respiratory infections are a major source of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. -from Author