Overview
Community-acquired pneumonia is the presence of signs and symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection acquired outside of the hospital.
The most common bacterial cause of childhood pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae. It usually causes about 1/3 of radiographically-confirmed pneumonia in children <2 years of age.
Viruses commonly affect children <1 year of age than those aged >2 years, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) being the most frequently detected virus.
Mixed infection may occur in 8-40% of community-acquired pneumonia cases.
Therapy is usually empiric and is based on age-specific causes of community-acquired pneumonia, disease severity and local resistance patterns of predominant pathogens. If blood or respiratory tract specimen culture has identified the causative agent, a safe, narrow-spectrum and effective therapy should be given.
Assess the indications for hospital or intensive care units in children with moderate to severe community-acquired pneumonia.
For further information regarding the management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children, please refer to Disease Algorithm for the Treatment Guideline.
The most common bacterial cause of childhood pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae. It usually causes about 1/3 of radiographically-confirmed pneumonia in children <2 years of age.
Viruses commonly affect children <1 year of age than those aged >2 years, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) being the most frequently detected virus.
Mixed infection may occur in 8-40% of community-acquired pneumonia cases.
Therapy is usually empiric and is based on age-specific causes of community-acquired pneumonia, disease severity and local resistance patterns of predominant pathogens. If blood or respiratory tract specimen culture has identified the causative agent, a safe, narrow-spectrum and effective therapy should be given.
Assess the indications for hospital or intensive care units in children with moderate to severe community-acquired pneumonia.
For further information regarding the management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children, please refer to Disease Algorithm for the Treatment Guideline.
