Nearly four million children contract pneumonia in Bangladesh every year, with around 677,000 requiring hospitalisation and an estimated 24,000 dying from the disease, according to research by icddr,b.
The figures were presented at a joint press conference by the Bangladesh Lung Foundation and the Chest and Heart Association of Bangladesh in May 2026.
The country observes World Pneumonia Day today under the theme “A New Era in Pneumonia Control”.
Pneumonia accounts for around 24% of deaths among children under five in Bangladesh, compared with the global average of about 14%, according to the research. The country’s pneumonia mortality rate stands at 7.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, against the Sustainable Development Goal target of three per 1,000 by 2025.
The global toll remains high. UNICEF estimates that more than 700,000 children under five die from pneumonia every year, averaging around 2,000 deaths a day. South Asia has one of the highest infection rates, with more than 2,500 cases per 100,000 children annually.
According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s 2023 Global Burden of Disease estimates, pneumonia caused around 2.5 million deaths worldwide that year, including approximately 610,000 children under five.
Risk persists throughout the year
Although respiratory infections often increase in winter, doctors say children can develop pneumonia at any time of the year. Malnutrition, low birth weight, age below six months and exposure to air pollution increase the risk.
Vehicle emissions, construction dust, industrial pollution and smoke from household cooking can damage children’s respiratory systems and make them more vulnerable to pneumonia and other infections.
Data from Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute show that 3,103 children with pneumonia were admitted in 2022. The number rose to 3,511 in 2023 and 4,118 by December 12, 2024. The hospital recorded 2,136 cases up to November 12, 2025.
Separately, the Directorate General of Health Services reported that 175,175 pneumonia patients had been admitted to public hospitals by September 24, 2026. However, the figures cover different reporting periods and populations and cannot be used to establish a direct year-on-year national trend.
Early treatment can prevent complications
Professor Dr Probir Kumar Sarker of the paediatric pulmonology department at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute said delayed treatment could quickly worsen a child's condition.
He said vaccination and improved treatment had helped reduce child deaths from pneumonia, but many children still arrive at hospitals with severe complications. Delays in seeking care and declining antibiotic effectiveness can make treatment more difficult.
The institute treats around 8,000 children a year for pneumonia and other respiratory conditions, including approximately 5,000 pneumonia and 3,000 bronchitis cases, he said.
Doctors advise parents to seek medical attention if a child with fever, cough or cold develops rapid or difficult breathing, or if the lower chest sinks inward while breathing. Severe cases may require oxygen and hospital care.
Vaccination and nutrition key to prevention
Doctors stress that routine immunisation, adequate nutrition and a clean environment are essential to preventing pneumonia. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) helps protect children against pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by age-appropriate complementary foods, also helps strengthen a child's immunity. Children should be kept away from smoke and air pollution.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend treatment based on the type and severity of the illness. Antibiotics are not needed for every cough or respiratory infection and should be used only following a doctor's assessment.