Lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of childhood pneumonia: a safe and accurate imaging mode

Abstract

Mohamed Ata Hendaus,1,2 Fatima Ahmed Jomha,3 Ahmed Hassan Alhammadi1,2 1Department of Pediatrics, Academic General Pediatrics Division, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, 2Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, Al Rayyan, Qatar; 3School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Khiara, Lebanon Abstract: Pneumonia is the most common infectious cause of mortality in children worldwide. Chest x-ray (CXR) has been used as a supplementary mode in the diagnosis of pneumonia in children, but its frequent use might expose children to unnecessary ionizing radiation. In this review, we present up-to-date data of an alternative mode of imaging other than CXR in the diagnosis of pneumonia in children. We found that lung ultrasound is a safe and accurate mode of imaging that can be used by a health care provider in the cases of suspected pneumonia. It is more sensitive than CXR in the diagnosis of pneumonia and obviates the need for irradiation. Keywords: lung ultrasound, children, pneumonia

Keywords

• Lung ultrasound
• children
• pneumonia