Adôrno IF, Tibana TK, Santos RFT, Leão VMM, Brustoloni YM, Silva PAI, Ferreira MA, Nunes TF. Initial chest X-ray findings in pediatric patients diagnosed with H1N1 virus infection.
Radiol Bras 2019;
52:78-84. [PMID:
31019335 PMCID:
PMC6472857 DOI:
10.1590/0100-3984.2018.0030]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate chest X-ray findings in pediatric patients diagnosed with
influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
Materials and Methods
We retrospectively reviewed chest X-ray findings in 17 cases of pulmonary
infection with the H1N1 virus (in 7 males and 10 females) examined between
2012 and 2016. The mean age of the patients was 14 months (range, 2-89
months). The diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical and
radiographic criteria, and the virus was detected by polymerase chain
reaction. The radiographic findings were categorized by type/pattern of
opacity and by lung zone. The patients were divided into two groups: those
not requiring ventilatory support; and those requiring ventilatory support
or evolving to death.
Results
The abnormality most often seen on chest X-rays was that of
peribronchovascular opacities, the majority of which affected less than 25%
of the lung, the involvement being bilateral and asymmetric. The lung zone
most frequently involved was the middle third, with central and peripheral
distribution, without pleural effusion. There was a statistically
significant difference between the groups in terms of the symmetry of
pulmonary involvement, asymmetric findings predominating in the group that
required ventilatory support (p = 0.029).
Conclusion
In pediatric patients with H1N1 virus infection, the main alterations on the
initial chest X-rays are peribronchovascular opacities, nonspecific alveolar
opacities, and consolidations. Although the definitive diagnosis of H1N1
virus infection cannot be made on the basis of imaging characteristics
alone, using a combination of clinical and radiographic findings can
substantially improve the diagnostic accuracy.
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