Shan W, et al. - Among children in downtown Suzhou, China, researchers described the clinical characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and examined the risk factors of severe CAP. In this retrospective study of childhood hospitalizations, they involved children who were residents of downtown Suzhou (29 days to < 5 years of age) with discharge diagnosis codes J09 to J18 and J20 to J22. According to findings, pediatric CAP hospitalizations in younger age with congenital heart diseases, respiratory distress symptoms/tachypnea, abnormal white blood cells and C-reactive protein results, as well as complications, were at higher risk of progression to severe CAP. Cough, fever, wheezing and respiratory distress were the common clinical symptoms at admission.