Lower respiratory tract infections in children

Lower respiratory tract infections-pneumonia, atypical pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and bronchitis-are responsible for much morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population, On a regular basis, pediatricians clinically diagnose these conditions and must make decisions regarding evaluation and treatment, The focus of this update is on new developments in the past year in the areas of epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of lower respiratory tract infections. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.