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Estimates of the disease burden from childhood pneumonia are available for most developed countries, but they are based mainly on models. Measured country-specific pneumonia burden data are limited to a few nations and differ in case definitions and case ascertainment methods.

We reviewed the literature for studies describing childhood pneumonia incidence in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Available estimates suggest that each year in developed countries there are up to 2.6 million cases of pneumonia, including 1.5 million hospitalized cases and around 3,000 pneumonia deaths (compared with approximately 640 annual deaths from meningitis) in children less than 5 years of age.

Data to inform policy decisions would be improved by information on burden and etiology of severe pneumonia, population-based incidence of ambulatory visits and hospitalizations, and prevalence of complications and sequelae.

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012 Oct 24;
Authors: Madhi SA, De Wals P, Grijalva CG, Grimwood K, Grossman R, Ishiwada N, Lee PI, Nascimento-Carvalho C, Nohynek H, O'Brien KL, Vergison A, Wolter J
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