Accuracy of Lung Ultrasonography in Diagnosis of Pneumonia as Compared to Chest X-Ray in Paediatric Age Group

Abstract

arly diagnosis and management of pneumonia is critical to short and long term health outcomes. Clinical examination is very sensitive and lacks specificity and results that contributes to over description of antibiotics. Chest X-ray (CXR) is considered as the first imaging step for further evaluation. Even though plain radiographs have small amounts of radiation dose exposure about 0.01-1.5 mSv, children are more susceptible to nondeterministic stochastic effects of radiation than adults. In light of increasing awareness of radiation exposure risks in children, we designed this study to define the LUS characteristics of pneumonia in children at presentation and to compare these LUS findings with the CXR findings to determine if LUS could serve as a useful alternative to CXR. And our study proved that Lung ultrasound is safe and accurate for the diagnosis of suspected cases of community acquired pneumonia and it is more sensitive than chest X-ray and allows a radiation free technique for detection of consolidations in children, thus reducing radiation exposure in this population.