Domestic smoke pollution and acute respiratory infections in a rural community of the hill region of Nepal

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Abstract

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the cause of death for at least five million children per year under five years of age. Most of these deaths occur in developing countries. Domestic smoke pollution is very common in many parts of the developing world, and appropriate technology, such as smokeless stoves, is available to reduce this type of pollution. The present study has been undertaken in a rural community of the hill region of Nepal to find out if there is any association between domestic smoke pollution and ARI in infants and children younger than two years of age. This preliminary study showed that episodes of moderate and severe ARI increased with increases in the level of exposure to domestic smoke pollution, thus suggesting domestic smoke pollution to be an important, preventable risk factor of ARI.

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