In 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made the world aware of how deadly respiratory viruses can be. In reality, respiratory infections have been with us for a very long time and will continue to be a major source of human suffering and death.

Apart from viruses, there are many other sources of respiratory infection that cause much human disease.  These include bacteria, fungi, and other organisms that may infect the upper airways (nose, sinuses, and throat) and/or, more worryingly, the lower airways and lungs (such as bronchitis and or pneumonia).

These may cause lung symptoms such as cough, fast breathing, green sputum, and breathlessness, as well as general symptoms such as fever, feeling ill, and weight loss.  Chest pain while breathing or coughing may also occur.

Respiratory infections impose an immense worldwide health burden:

• Each year almost 700,000 children die from pneumonia. 80 percent of deaths are in children under 2 years and adults above 65 years. Almost all deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

• Each year there are 10 million new cases of tuberculosis (TB) and 1.5 million deaths. Deaths from TB occur mostly in children under 5 years and adults in the 20-35 year age range. Over 95 percent of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

• Viral respiratory infections can occur in epidemics and spread rapidly within communities across the globe, to become global pandemics. COVID-19 is one such viral respiratory infection that has affected more than 25 million people worldwide and nearly 860,000 have died by the beginning of September 2020. The burden will continue to exponentially increase in the near future.

World Lung Day 2020