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Stoicescu ER, Iacob R, Ilie AC, Iacob ER, Susa SR, Ghenciu LA, Constantinescu A, Cocolea DM, Oancea C, Manolescu DL. Differentiating Viral from Bacterial Pneumonia in Children: The Diagnostic Role of Lung Ultrasound-A Prospective Observational Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:480. [PMID: 38472952 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14050480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This prospective observational study aimed to investigate the utility of lung ultrasound (LUS) in diagnosing and managing pediatric respiratory infections, specifically focusing on viral, bacterial, and SARS-CoV-2 infections. Conducted over a period of 1 year and 8 months, this research involved 85 pediatric patients (showcasing a median age of 14 months) recruited based on specific criteria, including age, confirmed infection through multiplex PCR tests, and willingness to undergo LUS imaging. This study employed a 12-area scoring system for LUS examinations, utilizing the lung ultrasound score (LUSS) to evaluate lung abnormalities. The PCR examination results reveal diverse respiratory pathogens, with SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and bacterial co-infections being prominent among the cases. As an observational study, this study was not registered in the registry. Distinct LUS patterns associated with different pathogens were identified, showcasing the discriminatory potential of LUS in differentiating between viral and bacterial etiologies. Bacterial infections demonstrated more severe lung involvement, evident in significantly higher LUSS values compared with viral cases (p < 0.0001). The specific abnormalities found in bacterial superinfection can be integrated into diagnostic and management protocols for pediatric respiratory infections. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into optimizing LUS as a diagnostic tool in pediatric pneumonia, facilitating more informed and tailored healthcare decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Robert Stoicescu
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Field of Applied Engineering Sciences, Specialization Statistical Methods and Techniques in Health and Clinical Research, Faculty of Mechanics, 'Politehnica' University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazul Boulevard No. 1, 300222 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Iacob
- Field of Applied Engineering Sciences, Specialization Statistical Methods and Techniques in Health and Clinical Research, Faculty of Mechanics, 'Politehnica' University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazul Boulevard No. 1, 300222 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Anatomy and Embriology, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Ph.D. School, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Adrian Cosmin Ilie
- Department III Functional Sciences, Division of Public Health and Management, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Emil Radu Iacob
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Septimiu Radu Susa
- Ph.D. School, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Laura Andreea Ghenciu
- Department of Functional Sciences, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Amalia Constantinescu
- Ph.D. School, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Daiana Marina Cocolea
- Ph.D. School, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristian Oancea
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Department of Pulmonology, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Diana Luminita Manolescu
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), 'Victor Babeș' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
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Stoicescu ER, Iacob R, Iacob ER, Ghenciu LA, Oancea C, Manolescu DL. Tiny Lungs, Big Differences: Navigating the Varied COVID-19 Landscape in Neonates vs. Infants via Biomarkers and Lung Ultrasound. Biomedicines 2024; 12:425. [PMID: 38398027 PMCID: PMC10886952 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to their susceptibilities, neonates and infants face unique SARS-CoV-2 challenges. This retrospective study will compare the illness course, symptoms, biomarkers, and lung damage in neonates and infants with SARS-CoV-2 infection from February 2020 to October 2023. This study was conducted at two hospitals in Timisoara, Romania, using real-time multiplex PCR to diagnose and lung ultrasonography (LUS) to assess lung involvement. Neonates had a more severe clinical presentation, an increased immune response, and greater lung involvement. Neonates had more PCR-positive tests (p = 0.0089) and longer hospital stays (p = 0.0002). In neonates, LDH, CRP, and ferritin levels were higher, indicating a stronger inflammatory response. Reduced oxygen saturation in neonates indicates respiratory dysfunction. The symptoms were varied. Infants had fever, cough, and rhinorrhea, while neonates had psychomotor agitation, acute dehydration syndrome, and candidiasis. This study emphasizes individualized care and close monitoring for neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections. Newborn lung ultrasonography showed different variances and severity levels, emphasizing the need for targeted surveillance and therapy. Newborns have high lung ultrasound scores (LUSS), indicating significant lung involvement. Both groups had initial lung involvement, but understanding these modest differences is crucial to improving care for these vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Robert Stoicescu
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (E.R.S.); (D.L.M.)
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Field of Applied Engineering Sciences, Specialization Statistical Methods and Techniques in Health and Clinical Research, Faculty of Mechanics, ‘Politehnica’ University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazul Boulevard No. 1, 300222 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Iacob
- Field of Applied Engineering Sciences, Specialization Statistical Methods and Techniques in Health and Clinical Research, Faculty of Mechanics, ‘Politehnica’ University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazul Boulevard No. 1, 300222 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Anatomy and Embriology, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Emil Radu Iacob
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Laura Andreea Ghenciu
- Department of Functional Sciences, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Cristian Oancea
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department of Pulmonology, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Diana Luminita Manolescu
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (E.R.S.); (D.L.M.)
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
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Alexopoulou E, Prountzos S, Raissaki M, Mazioti A, Caro-Dominguez P, Hirsch FW, Lovrenski J, Ciet P. Imaging of Acute Complications of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Paediatric Population-From Chest Radiography to MRI. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:122. [PMID: 38255434 PMCID: PMC10814200 DOI: 10.3390/children11010122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The most common acute infection and leading cause of death in children worldwide is pneumonia. Clinical and laboratory tests essentially diagnose community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). CAP can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or atypical microorganisms. Imaging is usually reserved for children who do not respond to treatment, need hospitalisation, or have hospital-acquired pneumonia. This review discusses the imaging findings for acute CAP complications and the diagnostic role of each imaging modality. Pleural effusion, empyema, necrotizing pneumonia, abscess, pneumatocele, pleural fistulas, and paediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) are acute CAP complications. When evaluating complicated CAP patients, chest radiography, lung ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used, with each having their own pros and cons. Imaging is usually not needed for CAP diagnosis, but it is essential for complicated cases and follow-ups. Lung ultrasound can supplement chest radiography (CR), which starts the diagnostic algorithm. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is used for complex cases. Advances in MRI protocols make it a viable alternative for diagnosing CAP and its complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthymia Alexopoulou
- 2nd Department of Radiology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (E.A.); (A.M.)
| | - Spyridon Prountzos
- 2nd Department of Radiology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (E.A.); (A.M.)
| | - Maria Raissaki
- University Hospital of Heraklion, Medical School, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Argyro Mazioti
- 2nd Department of Radiology, University General Hospital “Attikon”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece; (E.A.); (A.M.)
| | - Pablo Caro-Dominguez
- Pediatric Radiology Unit, Radiology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Avenida Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - Franz Wolfgang Hirsch
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital, Liebigstraße 20a, 04107 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Jovan Lovrenski
- Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Children and Adolescents Health Care of Vojvodina, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Pierluigi Ciet
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC—Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Radiology, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
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Sansone F, Attanasi M, Di Filippo P, Sferrazza Papa GF, Di Pillo S, Chiarelli F. Usefulness of Lung Ultrasound in Paediatric Respiratory Diseases. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:1783. [PMID: 34679481 PMCID: PMC8534634 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11101783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infection diseases are among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Diagnosis is focused on clinical presentation, yet signs and symptoms are not specific and there is a need for new non-radiating diagnostic tools. Among these, lung ultrasound (LUS) has recently been included in point-of-care protocols showing interesting results. In comparison to other imaging techniques, such as chest X-ray and computed tomography, ultrasonography does not use ionizing radiations. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for clinical follow-up of paediatric patients. LUS requires only 5-10 min and allows physicians to make quick decisions about the patient's management. Nowadays, LUS has become an early diagnostic tool to detect pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this narrative review, we show the most recent scientific literature about advantages and limits of LUS performance in children. Furthermore, we discuss the major paediatric indications separately, with a paragraph fully dedicated to COVID-19. Finally, we mention potential future perspectives about LUS application in paediatric respiratory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Sansone
- Paediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.S.); (M.A.); (P.D.F.); (S.D.P.)
| | - Marina Attanasi
- Paediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.S.); (M.A.); (P.D.F.); (S.D.P.)
| | - Paola Di Filippo
- Paediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.S.); (M.A.); (P.D.F.); (S.D.P.)
| | - Giuseppe Francesco Sferrazza Papa
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20146 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa di Cura del Policlinico, 20144 Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Di Pillo
- Paediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.S.); (M.A.); (P.D.F.); (S.D.P.)
| | - Francesco Chiarelli
- Paediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.S.); (M.A.); (P.D.F.); (S.D.P.)
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Lovrenski J. Pediatric lung ultrasound: reply to Corsini et al. Pediatr Radiol 2020; 50:1637-1638. [PMID: 32902697 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-020-04816-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jovan Lovrenski
- Faculty of Medicine, Radiology Department, Institute for Children and Adolescents Health Care of Vojvodina, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia.
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