Pediatric RSV Patients: Radiographic Findings on Admission and Clinical Outcomes

Abstract

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory tract infection in children. This retrospective review attempts to evaluate the association of admission chest radiographs with severity of clinical outcome. Radiographic findings were correlated with ‘severe’ and ’non-severe’ clinical outcomes, whereby a severe outcome was defined as hospitalization > 2 days, PICU admission, or mechanical ventilation during hospitalization. A non-severe outcome was defined as absence of the previous criteria. The most common abnormal chest radiograph findings were: interstitial prominence (n=182 [61.5%]), airspace opacity (n=106 [35.8%]), and hyperinflation (n=78 [26.3%]). The radiographic findings found to be associated with a severe clinical outcome were hyperinflation (p=0.033) and airspace opacity (p<0.001). Clinicians should consider more aggressive treatment and closer monitoring when these findings are present on admission chest radiography.