3 | RESULTS
We identified only fifteen studies to date using LUS to diagnose
SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and these studies involved a total of
334 newborns and children. These studies used LUS and nasal swabs to
diagnose SARS-CoV-2 and show the distribution of different ultrasonic
patterns as follows: the presence of B-lines in 73.94% of patients,
sub-pleural consolidation in 63.44%, pleural irregularities in29.03%,
coalescent B-lines in 27.64% and white lung in11.89% and thickening of
the pleuralion in 63.52%. Table1 shows the characteristics of included
studies.
Regarding
the use of CXR and lung US in pediatric patients with COVID-19
infection, we identified six studies with a total of 126 participants,
with the following results: 33patients(14.11%) with lung abnormalities
on lung US had a normal CXR; however, no patients with normal lung US
had abnormalities on the CXR.
Regarding the use of CT and lung US in pediatric patients with COVID-19
infection, we identified five studies with a total of 50 participants,
with the following results: 3 patients(6%) with lung abnormalities on
chest LUS had a normal CT.
Three studies evaluated the relationship between LUS scores and severity
of the disease, and only one study demonstrated the application of LUS
in follow-up after discharge on COVID-19 children.