Effective treatment strategies for paediatric community-acquired pneumonia.
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age worldwide and a cause of morbidity in a considerable number of children. A number of studies have sought to identify the ideal choice of antibiotics, route of administration and optimum duration of treatment based on the most likely aetiological agents. Emerging bacterial resistance to antibiotics is also an important consideration in treatment. However, inconsistent clinical and radiological definitions of pneumonia make comparison between studies difficult. There is also a lack of well designed adequately powered randomised controlled trials. This review describes the difficulties encountered in diagnosing community-acquired pneumonia, aetiology, treatment strategies with recommendations and highlights areas for further research.
Atkinson
Maria
M
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Yanney
Michael
M
Stephenson
Terence
T
Smyth
Alan
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents