Epidemiology of Acute Lower Respiratory Disease in Children

Abstract

RESPIRATORY infections are the major cause of morbidity due to acute illnesses in the United States.¹ Children may experience six to eight acute respiratory illnesses per year,^{2 3 4} many of which, particularly in infancy, will involve the lower respiratory tract.^{4 , 5} Mortality resulting from acute lower respiratory disease is a serious problem in children under five years of age.^{6 7 8} A large proportion of these illnesses have been ascribed to specific respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.^{9 , 10} Despite this information and the scientific knowledge and technical advances that have led to control of diseases such as poliomyelitis and measles, little progress has been . . .