title: Clinico-radiological parameters predicting early diagnosis of foreign body aspiration in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate clinical and radiological findings to make early diagnosis of foreign body (FB) aspiration in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted on 45 children younger than 12 years with a clinical diagnosis of FB aspiration undergone rigid bronchoscopy between September 2010 and May 2014. The results of 37 children (22 males, 15 females; mean age 2.6 years; range 1 to 12 years) with positive for FB on bronchoscopy were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Penetration syndrome (sudden onset coughing, choking and gagging) (89.2%) and decreased breath sounds (86.5%) were the most common clinical features. Cough, respiratory difficulty and fever were present in 83.8%, 78.4% and 27% respectively. Tachypnea, tachycardia, chest retractions, decreased chest movements and wheeze were present in 83.3%, 83.3%, 83.3%, 51.4% and 43.2% respectively. Unilateral hyperinflation (64.9%), mediastinal shift (45.9%), and collapse (21.6%) were common radiological signs on chest radiography and in 13.5% patients the chest X-rays were normal. Sites of FB lodgements were larynx, trachea, right main bronchus, left main bronchus and bilateral bronchi in 10.8%, 10.8%, 35.1%, 37.8 and 5.5% respectively. Food related FBs were present in 30 cases (peanut 54.1%) and inorganic FBs were present in seven cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Penetration syndrome, localized decreased breath sounds, unilateral hyperinflation and/or mediastinal shift on radiology are predictors for early diagnosis of FB aspiration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, 605006 Pondicherry, India. drpradipta04@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pradipta Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Parida
authors.forename: Nirmal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shanmugasundaram
authors.forename: Surianarayanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction; D001980:Bronchi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough; D004417:Dyspnea; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007830:Larynx; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014132:Trachea