Undernutrition and pneumonia mortality.

Journal article

Globally, pneumonia remains the leading infectious cause of death in children younger than 5 years. Undernutrition, defined by wasting, stunting, and specific nutritional deficiencies, is associated with approximately half of all deaths in such children. Beyond having a direct impact on mortality, undernutrition increases the frequency and severity of pneumonia episodes, potentially representing a secondary immune deficiency that has not been well characterised. Undernutrition in a child with severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation can also be associated with a diminished metabolic capacity to overcome the amplified physical and physiological demands of the illness, such as increased temperature, cardiac output, and work of breathing. Consequently, the presence of severe acute malnutrition can increase mortality from pneumonia 15-fold, and in a score of mortality risk among infants with pneumonia, very low weight-for-age and refusal to feed contributed as much to mortality risk as hypoxia.

Authors: Ginsburg, A; Izadnegahdar, R; Berkley, J; Walson, J; Rollins, N

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Lancet
• Journal: Lancet Global Health
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 12
• Pages: e735-e736
• Publication date: 2015-11-11
• DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(15)00222-3
• EISSN: 2214-109X
• ISSN: 2214-109X
• Language: English