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Clinical features

Authoring team

Clinical diagnosis of pneumonia is based on:

  • fever
  • tachypnoea
  • intercostal or subcostal recession
  • nasal flaring
  • expiratory grunting
  • shortness of breath
  • anxiety
  • cyanosis
  • respiratory failure

Note - in a previously healthy, immunocompetent child with non-severe symptoms, community-acquired pneumonia can be diagnosed clinically without the need for any blood tests, imaging, or microbiology investigations. (2,3)

Reference

  1. Shah SN, Bachur RG, Simel DL, et al. Does this child have pneumonia?: the rational clinical examination systematic review. JAMA. 2017 Aug 1;318(5):462-71.
  2. Chan SS, Kotecha MK, Rigsby CK, et al; Expert Panel on Pediatric Imaging. ACR appropriateness criteria®: pneumonia in the immunocompetent child. J Am Coll Radiol. 2020 May;17(5 Suppl):S215-25.
  3. Harris M, Clark J, Coote N, et al; British Thoracic Society Standards of Care Committee. British Thoracic Society guidelines for the management of community acquired pneumonia in children: update 2011. Thorax. 2011 Oct;66 Suppl 2:ii1-23.

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