Pneumonia is one of the most common infections in children who visit emergency departments( ED), but standard clinical guidelines for children with pneumonia in Korea have not been studied. This study was performed to collect and evaluate a data-base of children with pneumonia for establishing clinical guidelines in ED.

This study reviewed 304 children who were diagnosed and treated for pneumonia in the ED at one tertiary hospital between January 2003 and December 2003 retrospectively by reviewing the charts and analyzing the clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and radiologic findings between an admission group and a discharge group.

The 2 year-5 year age group was the top of age distribution and the peak incidence of monthly distribution was December. Two hundred forty seven(81.3 percent) children were hospitalized( admission group), and the mean length of hospitalization was 7.24±3.24 days. The most common indications of admission were fever, tachypnea and an age of less than three months. There was statistical differences in the outpatient department follow-up between the two groups(85.8 percent in admission group vs 35.1 percent in discharge group).

More prospective studies are needed to establish clinical standard guidelines for children with pneumonia. This will be helpful in ED management and will aid the prevention of pneumonia.