Abstract
Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) has been successfully used in the
diagnosis of different pulmonary diseases. Present study design to
determine the diagnostic value of LUS in the evaluation of children with
COVID-19, and to compare chest X-ray and LUS results with tomography
(CT). Method and objectives: In this prospective multi-center study,
40 children with confirmed COVID-19 were included. LUS was performed to
all patients at admission. The chest X‐ray and CT were performed
according to the decision of the primary physicians. LUS results were
compared with chest X-ray and CT. The sensitivity and specificity and
diagnostic performance was determined. Results: Of the 40 children
median (range) was 10.5 (0.4-17.8) years. Chest X-ray and LUS were
performed on all and chest CT was performed on 28 (70%) patients at the
time of diagnosis. Sixteen (40%) patients had no apparent chest CT
abnormalities suggestive of COVID-19, whereas 12 (30%) had
abnormalities. LUS confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary involvement in
10 out of 12 patients with positive CT findings. LUS demonstrated normal
lung patterns among 15 patients out of 16 who had normal CT features.
The sensitivity identified by the chest X-ray and LUS tests was
comparedand statistically significantly different (p=0.016). Chest X-ray
displayed false-negative results for pulmonary involvement in 75%
whereas for LUS it was 16.7%. Conclusions: LUS might be a useful tool
in the diagnostic steps of children with COVID-19. A reduction in chest
CT assessments may be possible when LUS is used in the initial
diagnostic steps for these children.