Abstract • 34

Pediatric infectious diseases comprise the most common causes of hospitalizations and ambulatory visits of infants and children. The most commonly involved site is the respiratory tract including both upper and lower tract infection ranging from rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis media and laryngotracheobronchitis to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Although all major classes of microorganisms may be involved in the etiology, the major initiating cause of respiratory disease are viral and include the rhinoviruses, adenovirus, parainfluenza, influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses. These viral infections are commonly complicated by secondary infection with bacterial agents including S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, S. pyogenes, B. catarrhalis, and staphylococcus. One of the major shifts in epidemiology of pediatric infectious diseases associated with a serious world-wide clinical problem has been the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial agents caused by the overuse of antibiotics. The major bulwark of control of pediatric infectious diseases is through prevention by the effective use of vaccines. Recent years have witnessed a remarkable reduction in several specific infectious diseases e.g. H. influenzae type b (Hib) infections, as a results of use of new vaccines, e.g. conjugated Hib vaccine, which can lead to protective immunity in children, particularly small infants <2 years of age. Other prophylactic approaches which can prevent pediatric infectious diseases include non-specific stimulation of the immune response, e.g., ribosomal immunotherapy.