As the world marks World Pneumonia Day, health experts warn that pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of child mortality in Bangladesh, killing 74 children every day—about 27,000 annually.
At the Bangladesh Children’s Hospital and Institute (Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute), over a hundred children with pneumonia are treated daily. Hospital data shows 3,511 cases were admitted in 2023, rising to 4,260 in 2024, while 2,136 have already been treated this year.
For many families, pneumonia is a recurring battle. Ranu Begum, from Hemayetpur, Savar, said her one-year-old son Rafayet has been hospitalized twice in recent months. “The doctors released him four days ago, but he fell ill again. Now he’s a bit better,” she said.
Professor Dr. Prabir Kumar Sarkar, a child health specialist at the hospital, said most patients come from outside Dhaka and are in critical condition. “Pneumonia remains the number one cause of death among children under five,” he noted. “One-third of all child deaths in Bangladesh are due to pneumonia.”
He added that vaccination programs had helped reduce cases for a time, but infections have recently surged again. “We’re seeing more complicated pneumonia cases due to antibiotic resistance. Timely oxygen therapy, nutrition, and proper antibiotics are crucial,” Dr. Sarkar said, emphasizing the importance of technologies like Bubble CPAP for respiratory support.
Doctors describe pneumonia as an inflammatory lung disease caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or environmental pollutants. While cases occur year-round, viral pneumonia spikes during seasonal changes, especially in winter. Indoor air pollution from closed rooms and fires also worsens respiratory infections in children.
Dr. Abid Hossain Molla, a pediatrician, said, “Pneumonia usually begins with a cough and can resolve within two to four weeks, but severe cases can cause respiratory failure or death. Children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung diseases are most at risk.”
Health experts stress that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months can reduce pneumonia risk by 23%, and that vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure.
Globally, pneumonia kills around 700,000 children under five every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2022. In Bangladesh, it continues to be the leading cause of death in this age group.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
