Influenza A H1N1 pneumonia: radiograph and CT features of children

Abstract

Objective To explore the imaging features on chest radiograph and CT in children with Influenza A H1N1 pneumonia. Methods The imaging data of chest radiograph and CT in six children with Influenza A H1N1 pneumonia confirmed by real-time RT-PCR assay was retrospectively analysis. All patients had chest radiograph at first examination and 4 of them re-examed. One children took CT. Results All cases showed thick lung markings with varied degrees of pulmonary infiltration and interstitial changes on chest radiograph. Among them, 3 cases showed bilateral pulmonary infiltration and 3 cases showed infiltration in left lung; enlarged hilar was observed in 3 cases. The imaging findings of the pneumonia changed quickly during the follow-up accompanied with the improvement of clinical symptoms. The only one chest CT examination showed bilateral infiltration, multiple ground-glass opacities,small subpleural nodulars, right pleural effusion and lymphadenopathy of lung hila and mediastinum. Conclusions Chest radiograph and CT revealed certain typical imaging features in the children with influenza A H1N1 pneumonia. However, the final diagnosis of influenza A H1N1 pneumonia still should be made based on epidemiology and laboratory examination. Key words: Child; Influenza; Pneumonia, viral; Radiography; Tomography, X-ray computed