Retrospective Review of Clinical and Chest X-Ray Findings in Children Admitted to a Community Hospital for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Abstract

Introduction. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate demographics, clinical course, outcome, and radiological findings of children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Methods. Four hundred patients admitted between October 2013 and May 2016 were enrolled. Clinical and radiographic trends were evaluated for association with severity of RSV presentation. Severity was defined as hospitalization >2 days, pediatric intensive care unit admission, or need for mechanical ventilation. Results. Common clinical findings included fever (78.5%), coughing (97%), rhinorrhea/congestion (93%), and hypoxia (44.8%). Hypoxia was seen in 64.7% of the severe group compared with 32.0% in the nonsevere group ( P < .001). Airspace opacification was seen in 49.2% of chest X-rays of the severe group compared with 26.4% in the nonsevere group ( P < .001). Conclusion. Higher incidence of hypoxia or airspace opacification on chest X-ray may be predictors of poorer outcomes for patients with RSV infection.