Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the leading cause of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study was conducted on 80 children patients with CAP. For all patients, tracheal aspirates and culture for samples of good quality were done. Significant counts of α-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from 35 patients out of the original 80 patients. For those 35 patients, optochin sensitivity, latex agglutination, and PCR for S. pneumoniae were performed. Both Latex agglutination test and PCR appeared to be useful as diagnostic tools with excellent sensitivity (100%) and good specificity: 62.5% for latex agglutination test and 79% for PCR assay. However, culture and optochin sensitivity test is still a reliable method for identification of S. pneumoniae.