Management and complications of bacterial pneumonia

Childhood community-acquired pneumonia causes considerable global mortality and morbidity, with the highest incidence in the youngest children. Although it is easy to establish the diagnosis clinically, the differentiation between bacterial and viral agents with routinely available laboratory and radiological techniques remains difficult. Management of these children is based on their age and the severity of the illness, with emphasis on supportive care and simple narrow-spectrum antibiotics. Increasing antibiotic resistance and complications of bacterial pneumonia have generated concerns regarding appropriate management. Availability of vaccines against common agents may represent a major advance in prevention strategies.