Assessment of usefulness of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in children.

Background: Pneumonia is a major health threat worldwide and causes more deaths in children than AIDS, malaria, and measles. The present study was conducted to assess usefulness of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in children. Materials & Methods: 48 child patients with community-acquired pneumonia of both genders were enrolled and all were subjected to chest radiography and lung ultrasound (LUS). Results: Out of 48, boys were 28 and girls were 20. The mean weight was 24.6 kgs, height was 114.2 cm, length of stay was 7.5 days, positive PICU stay was 25.4 days, location was right lung in 22, left lung in 15 and both lungs in 11 cases. Comet sign was positive in 25 and negative in 23, air bronchogram positive in 42 and negative in 6, fluid bronchogram positive in 5 and negative in 43, vascular pattern positive in 9 and negative in 39 and pleural effusion positive in 7 and negative in 41. Conclusion: A high detection rate for LUS in identifying pneumonia in children was found. It also proved to be a prromising tool for the follow up of patients with pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]