WHO's Pneumonia Study Tops Journal Articles : Take-home message: If a child with pneumonia is not toxic, oral rather than intravenous therapy is adequate.

The cohort study was based on 184 adult patients enrolled from September 1999 to December 2002. Only about a third had a positive culture.

Dr. Radetsky said he included this article in his top 10 list because “there is no pediatric study that helps a practitioner to decide whether something is bacterial conjunctivitis or not.”

A similar study of children is needed, he said. Until one is done, this system enables physicians to reduce the use of topical antibiotics, based on the historical information provided.