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90% of pneumonia in children is viral. Of the 10% that is bacterial, 90% in children aged over three months will be caused by pneumococcus; most of the remainder will be caused by H. influenzae. In the younger child other organisms are implicated; they are considered under neonatal pneumonia.
Pneumonia in infants and children has a variety of aetiologies which can only be distinguished by laboratory, and not clinical or radiological, findings. However, the epidemiology makes blind treatment a practical proposition.
NICE note that clinical features suggestive of pneumonia , in a child less than 5 years, are:
Note that with respect to uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infections in children (LRTI) in children (3):
Reference:
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