Respiratory diseases in children and infants

Respiratory disease is the most common cause of mortality in children in underdeveloped economies and the commonest cause of morbidity in developed economies. Respiratory tract symptoms are particularly prevalent in young children and evidence for the relative contributions of potentially remediable environmental factors is emerging. The state of children’s respiratory health is determined by the interaction of many factors including potential stressors from their environment, patterns of exposure, individual vulnerability and genetics. Identifiable risk factors include infection, air pollution (indoors and outdoors), diet, lifestyle, social condition, occupation, and provision of medical care. They produce a multi-causal effect that has both short- and longer-term manifestations with implications for lifelong respiratory health. This effect varies with gender, developmental age and ethnicity.