Diagnosing and managing pneumonia in children

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s updated draft guidance recommends babies and children between the ages of 3 months and 11 years with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia without complications or underlying disease should be offered a 3-day rather than a 5-day course of antibiotics. This change is based on evidence that shorter antibiotic courses are equally effective and help reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Consultation on the draft guidance is open until 12 May 2025.