The pneumonia challenge: time to end the global neglect

Pneumonia kills a child every 39 s and an adult aged 70 years or older every 29 s predominantly in the poorest settings, which have little access to medical care.1 Pneumonia remains the most common cause of infectious-related deaths worldwide, claiming nearly 2 million avoidable lives every year in children and older adults.2 The global burden of pneumonia is not only a medical tragedy but also a moral one. Pneumonia continues to exact a major impact on global health, not because clinicians do not have the tools for its diagnosis, treatment, or prevention, but because these tools are out of reach for many people.