Pediatric Critical Care in Resource-Limited Settings

Book excerpt: Millions of children are dying each year with preventable and reversible critical illness, including circulatory shock and respiratory failure. According to the World Health Organization, in 2015, the under-five mortality rate in low-income countries was 76 deaths per 1000 live births – about 11 times the average rate in high-income countries (7 deaths per 1000 live births). There is limited data about the nature of the delivery of critical care in resource-limited regions. The care of critically ill children in low-resource settings is challenging, contributing factors include limitations in the existing infrastructure, lack of resources, and low numbers of appropriately trained healthcare workers. Meeting these challenges requires clinical evidence pertinent to the local settings, adequate number of well-trained personnel, quality improvement activities, and the ongoing development of preventative measures. In addition, approaches to prevent worsening critical illness in at-risk hospitalized patients are needed. We are presenting 15 state-of-the art manuscripts from international experts, from all settings, involved in the care of critically ill children in resource-limited settings. This collection of manuscripts covers topics including education, research, clinical experience and infectious diseases. We hope that we are providing a window into the future of critical care delivery for all children around the world.