A new study published in the Journal of Global Health led by Dr. Mohammod Jobayer Chisti and his team, has found that bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) oxygen therapy is feasible for the treatment of childhood severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia in non-tertiary/district hospitals in Bangladesh.
The study, conducted by researchers from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), found that bCPAP oxygen therapy was safe and effective in treating children with severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia. There were no treatment failures or deaths among the 20 children who received bCPAP oxygen therapy in the study.
The study also found that bCPAP oxygen therapy was feasible to implement in non-tertiary/district hospitals in Bangladesh. However, the researchers identified some challenges to implementation, including the need for additional training for hospital staff, the need for adequate equipment and supplies, and the need for a reliable power supply.
The researchers concluded that bCPAP oxygen therapy is a feasible and effective treatment option for childhood severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia in non-tertiary/district hospitals in Bangladesh. They recommended that further research be conducted to evaluate the long-term impact of bCPAP oxygen therapy on child mortality.
This study is a significant step forward in the fight against childhood pneumonia in Bangladesh. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children under five years old in Bangladesh, and bCPAP oxygen therapy could help to save thousands of lives.
The study’s findings are also important for other low- and middle-income countries that are facing the burden of childhood pneumonia. bCPAP oxygen therapy is a low-cost and effective treatment option that could be made available to more children in need.
The researchers from icddr,b are working to make bCPAP oxygen therapy more widely available in Bangladesh. They are working with the government and other partners to train hospital staff, provide equipment and supplies, and ensure a reliable power supply.
The researchers are also working to raise awareness of bCPAP oxygen therapy among parents and caregivers. They believe that bCPAP oxygen therapy has the potential to save thousands of lives, and they are committed to making it available to more children in need.