Chest X-ray lung imaging features in pediatric COVID-19 and comparison with viral lower respiratory infections in young children. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • RATIONALE: Chest radiography (CXR) is a noninvasive imaging approach commonly used to evaluate lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children. However, the specific imaging patterns of pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on CXR, their relationship to clinical outcomes, and the possible differences from LRTIs caused by other viruses in children remain to be defined. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of patients seen at a pediatric hospital with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (n = 95). Patients were subdivided in infants (0-2 years, n = 27), children (3-10 years, n = 27), and adolescents (11-19 years, n = 41). A sample of young children (0-2 years, n = 68) with other viral lower respiratory infections (LRTI) was included to compare their CXR features with the subset of infants (0-2 years) with COVID-19. RESULTS: Forty-five percent of pediatric patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized and 20% required admission to intensive care unit (ICU). The most common abnormalities identified were ground-glass opacifications (GGO)/consolidations (35%) and increased peribronchial markings/cuffing (33%). GGO/consolidations were more common in older individuals and perihilar markings were more common in younger subjects. Subjects requiring hospitalization or ICU admission had significantly more GGO/consolidations in CXR (p < .05). Typical CXR features of pediatric viral LRTI (e.g., hyperinflation) were more common in non-COVID-19 viral LRTI cases than in COVID-19 cases (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: CXR may be a complemental exam in the evaluation of moderate or severe pediatric COVID-19 cases. The severity of GGO/consolidations seen in CXR is predictive of clinically relevant outcomes. Hyperinflation could potentially aid clinical assessment in distinguishing COVID-19 from other types of viral LRTI in young children.

publication date

  • September 15, 2021

Research

keywords

  • COVID-19

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC8661937

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85115109349

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2021.02.004

PubMed ID

  • 34487422

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 56

issue

  • 12