The utility of lung ultrasound in evaluation of infants with suspected bronchiolitis

Abstract

To study the role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in the evaluation of bronchiolitis in infants. 25 hospitalized infants, their mean age (6.94 ± 4.48 months), 7 males and 18 females. All patients underwent chest X-ray (CXR) and lung ultrasound after full clinical examination with suspicion of bronchiolitis and evaluation for corresponding findings. In 25 infants suspected clinically to have bronchiolitis, 11 patients had mild degree of bronchiolitis, other 11 patients had moderate degree and only 3 cases had severe form of bronchiolitis. The chest X-ray and lung ultrasound were done for all patients; the chest X-ray findings were non-specific including lung plethora in 6 patients, hyperinflation in 3 patients and peribronchial thickenings in 1 patient. The lung ultrasound findings were significant and variable ranged from subpleural lung consolidation in 3 cases, compact B-lines in 6 cases, pleural line abnormalities (thickening and irregularity) in 8 cases and small isolated B-lines in 11 cases. On follow-up of infants, the lung ultrasound findings were correlated positively with the clinical course of the disease. Lung ultrasound played an important role in the diagnosis, management and follow-up of infants with clinical suspicion of bronchiolitis.