Systemic cytokines/chemokines associated to radiographic abnormalities in pneumonia in children

•IL-6 was significantly higher among children with pneumococcal pneumonia.•IL-6 was significantly higher among children with pleural effusion.•IL-6 was independently associated with pleural effusion and pneumococcal infection.•High IL-6 is associated to pneumococcal infection if pleural effusion is absent.•IL-6 may be a pneumococcal infection biomarker if pleural effusion is absent. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) diagnosis remains a challenge in paediatrics. Chest radiography is considered gold standard for definition of pneumonia, however no previous study assessed the relationship between immune response and radiographic-confirmed-pneumonia. We assessed association between cytokines/chemokines levels and radiographic abnormalities in children with CAP. Children