Lung Ultrasonography – A Paraclinical Investigation Promoter in Community-Acquired Pneumonia Diagnosis in Children

Abstract

Abstract Lung ultrasonography is an excellent alternative to chest radiography, with better sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and, finally, with better accuracy. The lung ultrasonography is proven to be useful in trying to reduce the request of chest radiography. In the opinion of most specialists, lung ultrasonography is recommended to be a valuable tool for the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in children. Considering the fact that clinical examination remains essential because it suspects the diagnosis, the evolution does not require radiologic follow-up, also the pathologic findings at the clinical examination may change over the course of a day, the possibility of the clinician to maintain the objectivity is essential. For this goal to be possible, it would be ideal that the clinician himself performs the ultrasonography (in real-time).