Basic Principles for Control of Acute Respiratory Infections in Children in Developing Countries: A Joint WHO/UNICEF Statement

In most developing countries, over 50% of all deaths occur among children under 5 years of age, even though this group generally makes up only 15% of the population. The main causes of childhood mortality are acute respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases. Control of these infections, therefore, has important implications not only for child survival but also for the success of primary health care, family health, and socioeconomic development. The WHO Programme on Acute Respiratory Infections was initiated in response to the concern expressed by developing countries about the high mortality from these diseases in infants and young children. In 1983, the newly appointed Technical Advisory Group on Acute Respiratory Infections formulated guiding principles for control of these diseases. The "Basic Principles" outlined in this booklet are based on the Group's recommendations, and were first discussed at the UNICEF/WHO Joint Committee on Health Policy at its 25th session in 1985.