Abstract: Objective To explore the cytokines levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with refractory pneumonia and its significance. Methods A total of 97 children with refractory pneumonia were selected and then were divided into Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection group (53 cases) and non-MP infection group (44 cases) according to MP infection status. Meanwhile, 30 children with bronchial foreign body at our clinic were chosen as controls. ABC-double antibody sandwich ELISA method was used to detect interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 levels in BALF. Results The IL-6 and IL-10 levels in BALF of children with refractory pneumonia were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the IL-6 and IL-10 levels in BALF in MP infection group were significantly higher than those in non-MP infection group (P<0.05). Conclusions The cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 play some role in immune dysfunction induced by refractory pneumonia, especially caused by MP infection.#br#Key words: refractory pneumonia; bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; interleukin-6; interleukin-10; child