There is a shortage of beds, due to destruction by war of hospitals and wards. Fifty percent of admissions are acute respiratory disease with viral disease, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, and mycoplasma pneumonia infections common. Enterocolitis is common, including potentially lethal forms in the first year of life. The poor immunological state and nutrition of the children means it takes longer and stronger treatment to cure the children with antibiotics continued for a longer time. Mothers suffer from protein, vitamin, iron, folic acid, and iodine deficiency, and excessive carbohydrate in the diet.
Children suffer from vitamin D and iron deficiency and, in some areas, iodine deficiency.
Supplements must be supplied, distributed and eaten by the correct person at risk. Supplements should be adequate but not potentially toxic to those on adequate diet. Examples are Factor 8 for Hemophilia, growth hormone for pituitary dwarfs, and gamma globulin, life-saving in Kawasaki's disease. Human insulin may not be available, and it was stated that the raw material for manufacturing insulin is not allowed into Serbia because of the blockade. In other areas, simple apparatus such as naso-gastric tubes are not available for the newborn.