KARACHI, Jan 4: Despite concerted efforts made under a national programme to contain respiratory ailments among children under five, surge in relevant diseases particularly pneumonia is constantly registered in the country during last 12 years.

Acute respiratory infections which account for 30 to 70 per cent (varying with season) of all diseases among children at any of the clinics, in the form of either sore-throat, cold, cough, bronchitis or pneumonia is found to be comparatively more common in Sindh.

Sindh shares the heaviest bulk of acute respiratory infections across the country, Prof. Iqbal Memon, coordinator, Provincial ARI Control Programme (Sindh) told APP on Friday.

Referring to a recent study, he mentioned local OPDs at government hospitals sharing 50 per cent load of these diseases during summer (July to Sept) compared to 30 per cent at the OPDs of public sector institutions in other parts of the country.

According to him, pneumonia leads to 98 per cent of all ARI associated deaths around the globe. It, however, occurs more in developing countries than in developed world.

Poverty, malnutrition, over-crowding, environmental pollution, low-birth weight were identified as common causes for pneumonia.

Rapid urbanization leading to poor living facilities, mainly the direct exposure of children to smoke emitted through unrefined material burnt to cook food is singled out as a major contributory factor towards pneumonia in Sindh.

Tobacco smoking also had its severe repercussion on children, Dr Memon said mentioning that even if smoking is avoided in front of children, the chemical emission of tobacco smoke continues to exist in the very room for long duration, hence affecting the respiratory tract of the exposed children.

Smaller home based units applying chemicals as shops of dyers are again playing havoc with the health of residents particularly children with weak immunity. The situations turn all the severe due to indiscriminate use of aerosol including air fresheners.

The situation could be improved through proper public awareness about the disease and its prevention, besides early referral to qualified doctor and also improving diagnostic skills of the GPs.

The Provincial Coordinator for ARI Control Programme reminded that 60 to 70 per cent of non-pneumatic respiratory infections are viral hence the child usually gets well in two to three days time and do not require anti-biotics.—APP