Relevance. Pneumonia in young children remains one of the most urgent problems of modern pediatrics due to its high prevalence, risk of severe complications, and significant contribution to childhood morbidity and hospitalization rates. Anatomical and physiological characteristics of the respiratory system in early childhood, including narrow airways, insufficient development of lung tissue, and immature immune defense mechanisms, contribute to the rapid progression of the inflammatory process and the development of respiratory failure. Early identification of clinical and laboratory manifestations of pneumonia is essential for timely diagnosis, assessment of disease severity, and selection of appropriate therapeutic strategies.