causative organisms in paediatric pneumonia

Last reviewed 01/2018

Examples of different types of pneumonia in childhood:

  • viral - any child, especially younger than 1 year
  • Pneumococcal - older child, lobar, accounts for 90% paediatric bacterial pneumonia
  • Haemophilus - all ages
  • Staphylococcal - under 1 year, debilitated, weakened infants.
  • Mycoplasma - older children, ages 5 to 15.
  • Pneumocystis - in immunocompromised child (or adult)

In infants less than three months of age, the section on neonatal pneumonia should be consulted.

Several pathogens may co-exist in a sick child, one common combination is Chlamydia and Cytomegalovirus.