Objective To study the clinical value of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels in children with severe pneumonia. Methods A total of 72 children with severe pneumonia in pediatric intensive care unit were divided into heart failure (HF) group and non-HF group according to the occurrence of heart failure, and 30 healthy children were selected as control group. Serum NT-ProBNP and cTnI levels were detected and analyzed. Results Compared with control group, NT-ProBNP and cTnI levels were significantly higher (P<0.01) in HF and non-HF group. The levels of NT-ProBNP and cTnI in HFgroup were both significantly higher (P<0.01) than that in non-HFgroup. Serum NTProBNP level was positively related to the level of cTnI(P=0.000) in children with severe pneumonia. The abnormal rate of cTnI in HF group was significantly higher (P=0.037) than that in non-HFgroup. The difference of the abnormal rate of NTProBNP between the two groups was not significant (P=0.375), however, the abnormal rate of NT-ProBNP was significantly higher (P=0.036) than that of cTnI in non-HF group. Conclusions There was obvious myocardial damage in children with severe pneumonia. NT-ProBNP and cTnI could be important serological markers to assist diagnosis of myocardial damage and its severity.