Viral and atypical pneumonias.
Acute respiratory infections are the most common illnesses in the pediatric age group. Although pneumonia accounts for only 10% to 15% of all respiratory infections, it causes significant morbidity and mortality among children. Even in the age of multigenerational antibiotics and ever-emerging antiviral agents the recognition, differentiation, and treatment of pneumonia in the pediatric age group continues to be a challenge. The focus of this article is limited to viral and atypical pneumonias. Viral or Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection has been detected in 17% to 31% of outpatient pneumonias studied.
Latham-Sadler
B A
BA
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
Morell
V W
VW
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors