呼吸器感染症の現状と展望

Over the past 20 years, there have been a number of international outbreaks of infectious diseases causing respiratory symptoms. In particular, COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2（SARS-Cov2）, spread rapidly throughout the world, including Japan, due to its high infectivity and had a major impact on peopleʼs health, lives and economic activities. Numerous studies have elucidated the route of infection and its pathogenesis, and new vaccines and antiviral drugs have been developed in a short time. By the time the Omicron strain became predominant（July 2022）, the mortality rate of infected people over 80 years old had been reduced to the same level as seasonal influenza, partly due to the weakening of the virus itself. The public is now more aware of infectious diseases and has a better understanding of infections. The purposes of this review are to compare the characteristics of infectious diseases that cause respiratory symptoms, such as influenza, community-acquired pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia, and to discuss measures to prevent these diseases.