Abstract
In the last decade, Boston University, in collaboration with the Child and Adolescent Health Division of the World Health Organization (WHO), has conducted a number of multi-center clinical trials aimed at reducing the childhood mortality associated with acute respiratory infections (ARI). These studies have addressed questions of program relevance and challenges faced by implementing WHO case management guidelines. The spectrum of research studies has extended from endorsing WHO guidelines for using antibiotics in all children with fast breathing to evaluation of ARI guidelines for management of severe pneumonia. Research priorities have included assessing the capacity of community health workers to provide appropriate early treatment to children with pneumonia and to manage both pneumonia and malaria in countries with a dual burden of these childhood illnesses. These contributions are likely to have a long lasting impact on reducing the mortality and morbidity associated with childhood pneumonia.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Douglas RM. ARI- the Cinderella of communicable diseases. In: Acute Respiratory Infections in Childhood. Proceedings of an International Workshop, Sydney, August, 1984;1–2.
Wardlaw T, Johansson EW, Hodge M. Pneumonia: the forgotten killer of children. UNICEF/WHO; 2006.
Addo-Yobo E, Chisaka N, Hassan M, Hibberd P, Lozano JM, Jeena P, et al. Oral amoxicillin versus injectable penicillin for severe pneumonia in children aged 3 to 59 months: a randomised multicentre equivalency study. Lancet 2004;364:1141–1148.
Fu LY, Ruthazer R, Wilson I, Patel A, Fox LA, Tuan TA, et al. Brief hospitalization and pulse oximetry for predicting amoxicillin treatment failure in children with severe pneumonia. Pediatrics 2006;118:e1822.
Jeena P, Thea DM, MacLeod WB, Chisaka N, Fox MP, Coovadia HM, et al. Failure of standard antimicrobial therapy in children aged 3–59 months with mild or asymptomatic HIV infection and severe pneumonia. Bull World Health Organ 2006;84:269–275.
Hazir T, Fox LA, Nisar YB, Fox MP, Ashraf YP, MacLeod WB, et al. Ambulatory short-course high-dose oral amoxicillin for treatment of severe pneumonia in children: a randomised equivalency trial. Lancet 2008;371:49–56.
Asghar R, Banajeh S, Egas J, Hibberd P, Iqbal I, Katep-Bwalya M, et al. Chloramphenicol versus ampicillin plus gentamicin for community acquired very severe pneumonia among children aged 2-59 months in low resource settings: multicentre randomised controlled trial (SPEAR study). BMJ 2008;336:80–84.
Yeboah-Antwi K, Pilingana P, MacLeod WB, Semrau K, Siazeele K, Kalesha P, et al. Management of pneumonia and malaria at the community level in Zambia. Abstract 732. 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Washington, DC; November 2009.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rizal, A., Beard, J. & Patwari, A. Acute respiratory infection: Boston University’s collaborative research work in the last decade. Indian Pediatr 47, 19–24 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0006-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0006-5