Thoracic radiography in pediatric COVID-19 cases at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar in 2020-2021

Abstract

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/hCLGE3-eNjw   Background: Computed tomography (CT) as a chest radiographic examination has emerged as a crucial procedure for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring COVID-19 patients. This study aims to determine the radiographic appearance of thoracic imaging in pediatric cases of COVID-19 at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in Makassar, Indonesia. Methods: This study is an observational study design that uses secondary data from medical records to examine the radiographic appearance of thoracic imaging in pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection. The study was conducted at the Radiology Department of Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital in Makassar, Indonesia, from January 1st 2020, to December 31st 2021. The population included all pediatric patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results and a chest X-ray examination sent for thoracic imaging examination. The study sample was taken from all accessible populations that met the study criteria until the end of the study period. Results: A total of 147 samples (51.05%) showed abnormalities or pathological lesions on thoracic radiography, with consolidation being the most common finding (27.77%) distributed diffusely in both unilateral and bilateral regions. The rarest pathological finding was pleural effusion in 22 samples (7.63%). Conversely, 141 samples (48.95%) showed normal results on thoracic radiography examination. In the age group of 0-<1 month, 46 samples (55.43%) showed abnormalities on thoracic radiography, with consolidation being the most common finding in this age group, found in 30 samples (36.14%). Conclusion: This study showed that most children with COVID-19 symptoms exhibit abnormalities on thoracic radiography. However, these findings are not specific, and therefore, thoracic radiography cannot be used for screening or as a first-line diagnostic examination.