الفهرس 
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Abstract
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung especially affecting
the microscopic air sacs (alveoli) associated with fever, chest symptoms,
and a lack of air space (consolidation) on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is
typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes.
Infectious agents include: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites
(McLuckie, 2009). Worldwide, Pneumonia is the leading cause of
pediatric morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that Pneumonia is
responsible for more than 2 million deaths each year in children less than
5 years old, which represents 19% of the annual deaths in this age group
(Bryce et al. 2005). Approximately 95% of the Pneumonia-related deaths
occur in developing countries, and the youngest age groups have the
highest risk of death (Mulholland, 2003). Pneumonia case management,
which relies on early diagnosis and prompt empiric antibiotic therapy, has
been effective, reducing Pneumonia-related deaths by 47% (Sazawal and
Black, 1992). Consequently, death from pneumonia is the leading single
contributor to under-5 mortality globally, which presents a major
challenge for the achievement of the fourth Millennium Development
Goal to reduce under-5 mortality two-thirds by 2015 (UN, 2009).
However, the efficacy of this strategy may be diminished by poor
nutritional status (Brundtland, 2000). Under nutrition is known to be
associated with greater severity of Pneumonia, a higher frequency of
complications, longer episodes of infection, and greater case fatality rates
(Caulfield, 2004).