[Antibiotic therapy for lower tract infections in children]

Lower respiratory tract infections in children encompass mainly bronchiolitis and community acquired pneumonia. Severity of bronchiolitis is linked to the intensity of the respiratory distress and young age. This syndrome is caused by viral infection, thus, initial antibiotherapy is not justified. In community acquired pneumonia, prognostic is dependent on the nature of the infective agent. Eventhough viruses are mainly responsible for the illness, bacterial (and particularly pneumococcal) agent cannot be ignored. Initial antibiotics must be efficient on Streptococcus pneumoniae.