PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Lung ultrasound (LUS) can detect lower respiratory tract involvement in children with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, its role in follow-up assessments is still unclear. To describe LUS findings in children after SARS-CoV-2 infection, we conducted a prospective study in a population of pediatric patients referred to the post-COVID unit in a tertiary center during the study period from February 2021 to May 2022. Children were classified as recovered from acute infection or with persisting symptoms. LUS was performed in all children and a LUS score (ranging from 0 to 36 points) was calculated according to the Italian Academy of Thoracic Ultrasound. Six hundred forty-seven children (304 females, 47%) were enrolled. The median follow-up evaluation was two months. The median age was 7.9 (IQR: 6) years. At the follow-up evaluation, 251 patients (38.8%) had persistent symptoms, of whom 104 (16.1%) had at least one respiratory symptom. The median LUS level was 2 (IQR: 4). LUS findings and LUS scores did not differ in children with Long COVID compared to the group of children fully recovered from the initial infection. In conclusion, after SARS-CoV-2 infection, LUS was mostly normal or showed minimal artifacts in all groups of children.
摘要：
肺部超声（LUS）可以检测急性SARS-CoV-2感染儿童的下呼吸道受累。然而,其在后续评估中的作用仍不清楚。为了描述SARS-CoV-2感染后儿童的LUS发现，在2021年2月至2022年5月的研究期间,我们在三级中心的COVID后病房转诊的儿科患者人群中进行了一项前瞻性研究.儿童被分类为从急性感染中康复或症状持续。对所有儿童进行LUS，并根据意大利胸部超声学会计算LUS评分（0至36分）。六百四十七名儿童（304名女性，47%）参加。中位随访评价为2个月。中位年龄为7.9(IQR:6)岁。在后续评估中，251例患者（38.8%）有持续性症状，其中104人（16.1%）有至少一种呼吸道症状。中位LUS水平为2(IQR:4)。与从最初感染中完全康复的儿童相比，长COVID儿童的LUS结果和LUS评分没有差异。总之,SARS-CoV-2感染后，在所有儿童组中，LUS大多正常或表现出很少的伪影。
