Childhood infections in Nigeria: an autopsy study.

Infections are the leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Bronchopneumonia, meningitis and gastroenteritis are the commonest fatal infections encountered in Ibadan. Tuberculous lymphadenitis, bronchopneumonia and meningitis are other frequent causes of death. The predominant sequela of measles is respiratory tract infection. Another important cause of childhood mortality is cerebral malaria. In half of the cases of tetanus no obvious portal of entry can be found. It is advocated that the implementation of immunization schedules should be vigorously pursued to curtail childhood mortality resulting from infection.