Pneumonia in under-fives

Is pneumonia in under-fives worse than usual anywhere?

At or below its usual in every country that reports it.

What is pneumonia in under-fives?

An infection of the lungs. The tiny air pockets fill with fluid and pus, so breathing hurts and the body gets less oxygen. Viruses, bacteria or fungi can cause it.

Signs
Cough or trouble breathing, sometimes with fever. Fast breathing, or the lower chest sucking in with each breath, are key signs in young children.
How it spreads
Germs that normally sit in a child's nose or throat can be breathed down into the lungs. It can also pass through droplets when someone coughs or sneezes.
How to protect yourself
Vaccines against Hib, pneumococcus, measles and whooping cough. Breastfeed only for the first six months, keep indoor air free of smoke, and wash hands.
Get medical help
Get help quickly if a child breathes fast or the chest pulls in. Go urgently if a baby cannot feed or drink, has fits, or is very drowsy or cold.

In Dooram's words, from the World Health Organization. Source: Pneumonia in children (WHO fact sheet), read 8 October 2026. General information, not medical advice.

Which districts are furthest above their usual?

13 districts are above usual.

Each district against itself. A large district always has more cases than a small one, so each is compared only with its own usual.

When does pneumonia in under-fives usually peak?

  • PakistanAround January: it peaked in January 2024 and January 2025.

What "usual" means.

Sources. Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division, National Institutes of Health, Islamabad, weekly report.