Management of moderate-severity CAP in children 2 months or older

Empirical therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children 2 months or older is stratified according to disease severity – see Assessment of severity and clinical features of CAP in children 2 months or older. Children with moderate-severity CAP require close clinical review so are usually managed in hospital.

Viruses are the most common cause of CAP in children 2 months or older. Treat symptoms with:

paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever or pain (see Oral drugs for mild, acute nociceptive pain for dosing)
fluids to achieve and maintain adequate hydration.

Note: Viruses are the most common cause of CAP in children 2 months or older.

Antibiotic regimens for CAP in these guidelines can be used for initial treatment of aspiration pneumonia – see Management of a patient who has had an aspiration event.

Consider the need for additional empirical therapy in children 2 months or older with moderate-severity CAP suspected to be caused by Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae.