Despite substantial progress, infectious diseases remain important
causes of ill-health and premature deaths in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has
experienced a >90% reduction in the incidence of deaths due to
childhood diarrhoea over the last 25 years. Further reductions can be
achieved through the introduction of effective vaccines against
rotavirus and improvements in home hygiene, quality of drinking-water,
and clinical case management, including appropriate use of oral
rehydration solution and zinc. Pneumonia is now the leading cause of
childhood deaths in Bangladesh, and the pneumonia-specific child
mortality is largely unchanged over the last 25 years. Reductions in
mortality due to pneumonia can be achieved through the introduction of
protein conjugate vaccines against Haemophilus influenza type b and
Streptococcus pneumoniae , improvements in case management, including
efforts to prevent delays in providing appropriate treatment, and the
wider use of zinc. Tuberculosis is responsible for an estimated 70,000
deaths each year in Bangladesh. Although services for directly-observed
therapy have expanded markedly, improved case finding and involvement
of private practitioners will be important to reduce the burden of
disease