Patients receiving parenteral therapy may be switched
to oral treatment once they are afebrile and improving
clinically, can tolerate oral intake, and have no complications.
25 Amoxicillin is the drug of choice for patients
60 days to five years of age because of its activity against
S. pneumoniae. Macrolides or cephalosporins can be
used in patients with penicillin allergy. Macrolides are
the treatment of choice for children five to 16 years of
age because of their activity against M. pneumoniae and
C. pneumoniae.