Clinical factors associated with focal infiltrates in wheezing infants and toddlers.
It can be challenging to determine which findings are associated with focal infiltrates in young wheezing children. A prospective study of wheezing children < or = 18 months of age revealed focal infiltrates on chest radiograph in 23%. By use of multivariate analysis, findings significantly associated with focal infiltrates included grunting (OR 4.1, 95% CI, 2.0, 8.6) and oxygen saturation < or = 93% (OR 2.2, 95% CI, 1.1, 4.8); with a sensitivity and specificity of 12.5% and 97%, respectively. Variables not associated with focal infiltrates included first-time wheezing, fever, and tachypnea. The combination of grunting and oxygen saturation < or = 93% is highly specific and can be used to help diagnose pneumonia in wheezing infants and toddlers.
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-2899, USA.
E M
EM
Mahabee-Gittens
M D
MD
Dowd
J A
JA
Beck
S Z
SZ
Smith
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014965:X-Rays
D010100:Oxygen