Ethiology and pathogenesis of pneumonia in children

Over the past decade, there has been a significant expansion of the spectrum of pathogens of acute pneumonia. In addition to bacterial microflora, pneumotropic viruses, mycoplasmas, chlamydia, rickettsia, protozoa and fungi are becoming increasingly important in the development of pneumonia in children. The mechanism of pneumonia is not well understood. Most often, the pathogen from the nasopharynx penetrates and spreads aerobronchogenously with the subsequent occurrence of the inflammatory process in the acini. In pathogenesis, an abundance of lymphatic vessels in the lung tissue and lack of barrier function are important, especially in young children.