Establishment of a study network and patient cohort for pediatric CAP

The aim of the project is the development of a large pediatric CAP patient cohort based on the established pedCAPNETZ pilot cohort. The main objective is to improve knowledge on etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and management of pediatric CAP in a developed country. pedCAPNETZ will enable the systematic and detailed characterization of pediatric CAP cases on an epidemiological, clinical and biological level.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age < 18
• symptoms of an acute lower respiratory tract infection with radiological confirmed pneumonia via ultrasound or chest x-ray

Exclusion Criteria:

• hospitalization for any reason within the last 28 days
• congenital or acquired immunodeficiency
• concomitant respiratory disease with impaired mucociliary clearance such as cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, tracheostomy or other severe lung disease including pulmonary tuberculosis, malignancy, and cytostatic therapy during past 28 days or neutropenia (< 1000/µl) or relevant immunosuppressive treatment

CAP patients age < 18