Oxygen Concentrators Prove Effective for Treating Hypoxemic Children in Developing Countries

Several university studies have determined that using oxygen concentrators are a valuable tool for treating children with hypoxemia in developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends supplying oxygen to children in developing with oxygen concentrators. The WHO prefers oxygen concentrators to compressed oxygen cylinders because cylinders pose significant cost and logistic problems.

Hypoxemia is a common complication of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children. The disease is an abnormal deficiency in the concentration of oxygen in arterial blood. When people think of health problems for children in developing countries, they rarely think about respiratory illness. Pneumonia alone contributes to between 750,000 and 1.2 million neonatal deaths and an undetermined number of stillbirths each year worldwide. The majority of deaths from pneumonia occur in developing countries, where facilities for early detection are few and far between. Finding oxygen therapy equipment is a challenge throughout the third world.

For children with hypoxemia in developing countries, early detection and treatment is the key to survival. Here are some of the most common warning signs associated with hypoxemia:

* Rapid breathing (more than 60 breaths per minute)

* Nasal flaring

* Grunting

* Head nodding

* General depression

* Lethargy

The combination of several of these physical signs can be used to predict hypoxemia in children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) with reasonable accuracy. Healthcare workers and parents can be taught these warning s signs to help aid in early diagnosis.

Unfortunately, oxygen therapy is not part of the first line of treatment for most children with ARI in developing countries. Oxygen in these poor countries tends to be given to already seriously ill children, often with poor results. Oxygen can be much more useful if given at earlier stages of respiratory disease. Studies indicate that oxygen concentrators may improve management of childhood asthma in developing countries and are more cost-effective than conventional compressed oxygen cylinders. The only requirement for oxygen concentrators is a reliable source of electricity. Even this can be overcome with a small generator or a portable oxygen concentrator with re-chargeable batteries.

Oxygen concentrators are currently being successfully used in district hospitals in Egypt, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and Malawi. Research by the WHO has determined that one oxygen concentrator can provide low flow oxygen to up to 4 children. The organization also believes that savings offered by oxygen concentrators could be used to purchase other essential medicines and supplies. Charity organizations would be wise to purchase oxygen concentrators for children in developing countries. Oxygen concentrators provide life saving oxygen while offering exceptional value.