Childhood pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.Copeptin is a peptide released during stressful conditions and appears tobe superior to cortisol in determination of the stress level. The presentstudy investigated serum levels of copeptin in a group of hospitalizedchildren with pneumonia, and compared them to a matched healthy groupof controls. Serum copeptin was significantly higher in cases compared tocontrols (p=0.018). Copeptin was significantly higher in children who diedcompared to those who survived (p=0.045). Copeptin significantlycorrelated with total leukocytic count of cases (p=0.002). Copeptin couldserve as a prognostic marker for pediatric pneumonia.