Acute Respiratory Infection in relation to air pollution and other environmental factors

One of the main causes of infant death, worldwide and more common in under developed countries, is acute respiratory infection ARI); it causes one third of the total amount of deaths in children, ages 0 to 5. The environment, considering air pollution, is one of the factors that accounts for this disease. Including influenza and pneumonia, all around the world 3.5 million people die every year due to ARI, just in the USA 30.000, mainly children under 4 years of age, die yearly. Locally, SolSalud Caldas ESE for 2006, reports ARI as the third main cause of medical consultation for patients ages 0 to 14, with high incidence in children up to 4 years of age. In Colombia, reports show that ARI occupy first places of morbi-mortality in children ages 0 to 5; this happens mainly in areas with highly unsatisfied environmental needs, such as clean air. At this point, a key component for the attack of the problems ARI are causing, deals with the cooperative work in the fields of health and environmental protection, with aid and support from the local Administration and the Education Sector, in relation to the aspects of basic needs, like breathable air, and education.