In a review study for the journal Pediatrics, a team of physicians from Turin, Italy, evaluate lung ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for children affected by COVID-19.
Although the number of patients analyzed is small, the high concordance between radiologic and LUS findings suggests that ultrasound may be a reasonable method to detect lung abnormalities in children with COVID-19. LUS may be useful in the management of children with COVID-19 for several reasons. First, it may reduce the number of radiologic examinations, lowering the radiation exposure of the patients. Secondly, when performed at the bedside, LUS allows for the reduction of the patient’s movement within the hospital; thus, it lowers the number of health
care workers and medical devices exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2. Moreover, the recent evolution in the ultrasound field allows for the use of wireless devices, which, when available, are probably the most appropriate ultrasound equipment in patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
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Featured image: A and B, Multiple confluent B-lines (thin arrows). C, Chest radiography with left upper lobe consolidation and right central ground-glass opacities. D and E, A lung consolidation (thick arrows) at LUS. Courtesy Pediatrics.
