The changing landscape of acute respiratory infections in the post-pandemic era

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in children. Pneumonia—both viral and bacterial—is among the leading causes of death in children under five years old, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, ARIs contribute significantly to the burden of disease, accounting for approximately 4% of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and resulting in millions of deaths annually1. The estimated mortality rate due to ARIs in infants is 5.02 deaths per 1,000 live births2. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Ameri-ca alone reported 1.4 billion new respiratory infections and 177,000 deaths annually due to ARIs. Beyond the human toll, ARIs impose a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems and society. In this region, the total cost of permanent productivity loss was estimated at US$ 835 millionbased on annual minimum wage calculations and US$ 2 billion in purchasing power parity, representing 0.024% of the region’s gross domestic product3.