Children who are coughing: Is it flu or bacterial pneumonia?

What is the appropriate duration of antimicrobial therapy

Recommendations by the AAP for CAP note that treatment courses of 10 days have been best studied, although shorter courses may be just as effective, particularly for mild disease managed on an outpatient basis.

When should children be hospitalized

Children and infants who have moderate to severe CAP should be hospitalized. These children are defined by several factors, including respiratory distress and hypoxemia (sustained saturation of peripheral oxygen [SpO₂] less than 90%). Hospitalization also is recommended by the AAP for infants less than 6 months of age with suspected bacterial CAP and for children and infants for whom there is concern about careful observation at home or who are unable to comply with therapy or unable to be followed up.

Dr. Pichichero is a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases and director of the Research Institute at Rochester (N.Y.) General Hospital. He had no conflicts to declare. Email him at pdnews@mdedge.com.