Community Economic Development and Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children

Acute respiratory infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Four million children under five years of age die from respiratory infections each year (Douglas and Kerby-Eaton, 1985; Leowski, 1986; Garenne, Ronsmans, and Campbell, 1992) and most of the deaths are due to acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), primarily pneumonia (Garenne, Ronsmans, and Campbell, 1992).