Abstract

Globally, community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children younger than the age of 5. Although the majority of deaths attributed to pneumonia in children are in the developing countries, developed countries are also faced with significant healthcare-associated costs. This article provides an overview of the disease burden and the available data concerning the aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of paediatric CAP. Routine vaccination has been identified as one of the most cost-effective strategies to prevent death from pneumonia. Further efforts are needed to increase vaccination coverage in order to reduce the incidence of the disease.