Chest Radiographic Findings in Hospitalized Children with Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Viral Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Keywords:
Influenza virus, lower respiratory tract infection, radiographic finding, respiratory syncytial virusAbstract
Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus account for the majority of
lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children. Although there were several studies describing
chest radiographic findings in these cases, results were different.
Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the chest radiographic patterns of the two
common viruses in children with LRTI. Moreover, incidence, demographic data, and clinical
characteristics were also reported.
Material and Methods Chest radiographs of 30 children aged 1 month to 15 years who were
hospitalized in Burapha University Hospital from September 2010 to August 2015 with the
diagnoses of LRTI by either RSV or influenza virus were evaluated and described. The incidence,
demographic data, and clinical characteristics were also evaluated.
Results The incidence of RSV and influenza LRTI in our study was 32/556 (5.8%) patients. Of the
30 patients, 19 patients (63.3%) were infected with RSV and 11 patients (36.7%) with influenza
virus. The most common pulmonary infiltration patterns of both RSV and influenza infections
were interstitial infiltration (57.9% in RSV, 72.7% in influenza) and multifocal distribution (66.4% in
RSV, 72.7% in influenza). Diffuse distribution was more frequently found in RSV (31.1% vs. 9.1%).
Conclusion The most common chest radiological findings in children with RSV and influenza
infection of lower respiratory tract were interstitial pattern and multifocal distribution. The
complications, found only in RSV group, were pleural effusion and pneumothorax.
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