Typical pneumonia - Community-acquired pneumonia (Pediatrics - PEDS)

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. It is a common condition and may require hospital admission in up to half of the cases. It has a good prognosis. Typical pneumonia is caused by the most common germs. Children with diseases of the heart or lungs or problems with their immune system have an increased risk of developing pneumonia. Pneumococcus is the most common bacterial cause. Viruses alone represent 14 to 35 percent of cases and up to 50 percent of cases in children below 5 years old. In children over five years old, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae are very common. The combination of fever and cough is suggestive of a lung infection in children but symptoms may occasionally be non-specific. Young children may have difficulties eating, restlessness, irritability or only fever. Older children may complain of pleuritic chest pain. Diagnosis is clinical with tests and radiological examination. Treatment will depend on the cause. If the infection is bacterial, the treatment should be with antibiotics. If the infection is viral, the treatment is typically only for the symptoms.