Modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia in children

Annotation. Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in children in developed countries and a major cause of child mortality in developing nations. The etiology of the disease is variable and depends on the severity of the course and diagnostic approaches, necessitating a synthesis of information on modern diagnostic and treatment strategies for this pathology. The aim of this study is to evaluate and analyze, based on literature data, current challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric pneumonia, considering etiological features, shifts in pathogen spectra, and difficulties in microbiological identification. A comprehensive approach was applied to study modern diagnostic and treatment methods for pneumonia in children. Peer-reviewed publications from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were used for data collection and analysis. It was shown that chest X-ray, commonly used for diagnosing pneumonia in children, has limited specificity in distinguishing bacterial from viral etiology. The use of molecular methods improves diagnostics; however, their interpretation is complicated by the presence of commensal microorganisms. Diagnosis can be refined by analyzing inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and presepsin. In children, identifying the etiological agent is challenging due to difficulties in obtaining respiratory samples and the limited sensitivity of microbiological tests, necessitating the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological studies. Analysis of the efficacy of antibacterial and antiviral therapies helps optimize treatment strategies and reduce the risk of complications. Thus, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to pediatric pneumonia require further optimization, considering shifts in pathogen profiles. Future research prospects include the development of more precise molecular-genetic diagnostic methods and personalized treatment strategies.