Abstract
Introduction: Viral bronchiolitis is a common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in the first year of life, considered a health burden because of its morbidity and costs. Its diagnosis is based on history and physical examination and the role of radiographic examination is limited to atypical cases. Thus far, Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is not considered in the diagnostic algorithm for bronchiolitis. Methods: PubMed database was searched for trials reporting on lung ultrasound examination and involving infants with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis. Results: Eight studies were suitable. Conclusions: This review analyzed the current evidence about the potential usefulness of LUS in the clinical management of bronchiolitis. Literature supports a peculiar role of LUS in the evaluation of the affected children, considering it as a reliable imaging test that could benefit the clinical management of bronchiolitis.
Highlights
Viral bronchiolitis is a common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in the first year of life, considered a health burden because of its morbidity and costs
We found eight trials reporting on lung ultrasound examination and involving infants with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis (Table 1)
Children aged 2 weeks to months and 3 children older than 24 months with confirmed respiratory syncytial virus infection plus a separate specific group composed by 3 children over the age of 2 years diagnosed with bronchiolitis
Summary
Viral bronchiolitis is a common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in the first year of life, considered a health burden because of its morbidity and costs. Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is not considered in the diagnostic algorithm for bronchiolitis. Methods: PubMed database was searched for trials reporting on lung ultrasound examination and involving infants with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis. Literature supports a peculiar role of LUS in the evaluation of the affected children, considering it as a reliable imaging test that could benefit the clinical management of bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), resulting from the inhalation of virus-containing droplets. The diagnosis of bronchiolitis is based on the history and the physical examination [2]. The anatomical conformation of children makes the sonographic evaluation of the lungs possible for the creation of acoustic windows by the relatively unossified thorax of children, the large thymus gland and the thinner subcutaneous tissue [6]
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