Assessment Of Performance Of Lung Ultrasonography In Non-Severe Paediatric Pneumonia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64252/1z3nad60Keywords:
Lung Ultrasonography, Paediatric Pneumonia, Non-Severe Pneumonia, Chest X-ray, Diagnostic Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, Non-invasive Imaging, Paediatric Respiratory Infections.Abstract
Background:
Paediatric pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with early diagnosis and effective treatment being essential for reducing complications. Traditional diagnostic methods such as chest X-rays and clinical examination are commonly used; however, they have limitations, especially regarding radiation exposure in children. Lung ultrasonography (LUS) has emerged as a promising, non-invasive, radiation-free alternative for diagnosing and monitoring pneumonia, including in paediatric populations. This study aims to assess the performance of lung ultrasonography in diagnosing non-severe paediatric pneumonia, comparing it with traditional diagnostic methods.
Objective:
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasonography in identifying non-severe pneumonia in children, and to compare its performance with chest X-rays and clinical findings.
Methods:
A prospective study was conducted on 50 children aged 1 to 12 years diagnosed with non-severe pneumonia, based on clinical signs, symptoms, and chest X-ray findings. Each patient underwent lung ultrasonography in addition to routine clinical assessment and chest X-ray. The ultrasound findings were evaluated for the presence of typical pneumoniaassociated signs such as B-lines, consolidation, and pleural effusion. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of LUS were calculated and compared to chest X-ray results.
Results:
Lung ultrasonography demonstrated a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 89% for diagnosing non-severe pneumonia. The performance of LUS was found to be comparable to chest X-rays in detecting pneumonia-related abnormalities, with fewer cases of misdiagnosis. The positive predictive value was 90%, and the negative predictive value was 91%, indicating high diagnostic reliability.
Conclusion:
Lung ultrasonography is a highly sensitive and specific tool for diagnosing non-severe paediatric pneumonia. Its noninvasive, radiation-free nature makes it an excellent alternative to chest X-rays, especially in children, providing an effective diagnostic option with high accuracy. Further studies are needed to standardize LUS protocols and explore its potential in routine clinical practice for paediatric pneumonia management.
