Lowering Exposure of Children to Indoor Air Pollution to Prevent ARI: The Need for Information and Action

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is the most important cause of death for children under five years in developing countries. ARI includes chest infections, coughs and colds, and middle-ear infections, but excludes asthma. The most serious type of ARI is acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), most of which (in developing countries) is due to pneumonia. ALRI is believed to account for about 20% of the estimated 12 million deaths each year in children under five and about 10% of perinatal deaths (stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life). ALRI is also the cause of death for many children with measles, pertussis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Kirkwood et al. 1995).