Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950, Barcelona, Spain.
Disorders of Immunity and Respiration of the Pediatric Critical Patient Research Group, Institut Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Eur J Pediatr. 2021 Apr;180(4):1117-1123. doi: 10.1007/s00431-020-03839-6. Epub 2020 Oct 22.
During the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), lung ultrasound has been used to diagnose and monitor respiratory condition. The aim of the study was to describe lung ultrasound findings in children with a COVID-19 infection. Patients younger than 18 years old and positive for COVID-19, admitted to pediatric tertiary referral hospital were included. They were divided into two groups depending on the presence of respiratory symptoms. Lung ultrasound results were categorized into four degrees according to Soldati et al. score (J Ultrasound Med 39:1-7, 2020) and it was also described the presence and type of consolidation. Sixteen patients were recruited. The median age was 11 years old (IQR 2.8-12). Four children (25%) required admission to the intensive care unit. Six patients (37.5%) presented with respiratory symptoms. Most of them showed S.score of 2 and subpleural consolidations were observed in four cases (66.6%). Ten patients (62.5%) presented with non-respiratory symptoms, lung ultrasound showed S.score from 0 to 2. Three (30%) were diagnosed of multisystem inflammatory syndrome and lung ultrasounds showed S.score of 2 with bilateral pleural effusion.Conclusions: Children with COVID-19 and respiratory symptoms mostly showed a S.score of 2 and 3 with subpleural consolidations, upon the lung ultrasound assessment. What is Known: • Lung ultrasound is a useful tool for monitoring patients with respiratory symptoms in both adults and children. Lung ultrasounds are altered in adult patients with COVID-19. What is New: • Lung ultrasound might improve COVID-19 assessment, it could be a useful tool to diagnose and monitor patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Even COVID-19 patients with non-respiratory symptoms have lung alterations that are visible on lung ultrasound.
在由新型冠状病毒（COVID-19）引起的大流行期间，肺部超声已被用于诊断和监测呼吸状况。本研究旨在描述 COVID-19 感染患儿的肺部超声表现。纳入年龄小于 18 岁且 COVID-19 阳性、收入儿科三级转诊医院的患者。根据是否存在呼吸症状将患者分为两组。根据 Soldati 等人的评分（J Ultrasound Med 39:1-7, 2020）将肺部超声结果分为四级，并描述实变的存在和类型。共纳入 16 例患者。中位年龄为 11 岁（IQR 2.8-12）。4 名儿童（25%）需要入住重症监护病房。6 例患者（37.5%）出现呼吸症状。他们大多数 S 评分 2 分，4 例（66.6%）观察到胸膜下实变。10 例（62.5%）表现为非呼吸系统症状，肺部超声显示 S 评分 0-2 分。3 例（30%）诊断为多系统炎症综合征，肺部超声显示双侧胸腔积液，S 评分 2 分。结论：COVID-19 伴呼吸症状的患儿肺部超声评估多表现为 S 评分 2 分和 3 分，伴有胸膜下实变。已知：•肺部超声是监测成人和儿童有呼吸症状患者的有用工具。COVID-19 成人患者的肺部超声发生改变。新发现：•肺部超声可能改善 COVID-19 的评估，它可能是 COVID-19 大流行期间诊断和监测患者的有用工具。即使是非呼吸系统症状的 COVID-19 患者，肺部超声也能显示可见的肺部改变。
