Pneumonia-related child deaths double

Staff Reporter
Guwahati, Nov 6: Assam has witnessed a rise in cases of pneumonia and other respiratory illness, including ear infections, president of the Assam chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics Dr Garim Saikia has said, highlighting the need for a tiol-level pneumococcal surveillance. At a discussion today, Dr Saikia pointed out that there has been a 200 per cent spike in pneumonia-related child deaths in the State, from 62 in 2013 to 133 in 2014. Increasing antibiotic resistance and idequate vaccine coverage are some reasons for high child mortality rate," she said.