title: International guidelines on tackling community-acquired pneumonia show major discrepancies between developed and developing countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to compare the current guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of paediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in developing and developed countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed consulting the Medline, Embase, Current Contents, National Guideline Clearinghouse and Cochrane database, from January 2000 to March 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve guidelines were selected: six from developed countries and six from developing countries. Major discrepancies between the diagnosis and treatment approaches recommended by guidelines covering developing and developed countries were revealed. The search also highlighted differences between recommendations issued in similar settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The guidelines show wide variations and weak recommendations and further research is needed to improve clinical outcomes and make better use of resources.
authors: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors: Elettra
authors: E
authors: Berti
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Galli
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: de Martino
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Chiappini
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: CAP; Children; Community-acquired pneumonia; Diagnosis; Paediatric guidelines