{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T04:44:41Z","timestamp":1790743481142,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]],"date-time":"2024-02-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1708646400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This prospective observational study aimed to investigate the utility of lung ultrasound (LUS) in diagnosing and managing pediatric respiratory infections, specifically focusing on viral, bacterial, and SARS-CoV-2 infections. Conducted over a period of 1 year and 8 months, this research involved 85 pediatric patients (showcasing a median age of 14 months) recruited based on specific criteria, including age, confirmed infection through multiplex PCR tests, and willingness to undergo LUS imaging. This study employed a 12-area scoring system for LUS examinations, utilizing the lung ultrasound score (LUSS) to evaluate lung abnormalities. The PCR examination results reveal diverse respiratory pathogens, with SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and bacterial co-infections being prominent among the cases. As an observational study, this study was not registered in the registry. Distinct LUS patterns associated with different pathogens were identified, showcasing the discriminatory potential of LUS in differentiating between viral and bacterial etiologies. Bacterial infections demonstrated more severe lung involvement, evident in significantly higher LUSS values compared with viral cases (p &lt; 0.0001). The specific abnormalities found in bacterial superinfection can be integrated into diagnostic and management protocols for pediatric respiratory infections. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into optimizing LUS as a diagnostic tool in pediatric pneumonia, facilitating more informed and tailored healthcare decisions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics14050480","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]],"date-time":"2024-02-23T06:07:39Z","timestamp":1708668459000},"page":"480","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Differentiating Viral from Bacterial Pneumonia in Children: The Diagnostic Role of Lung Ultrasound\u2014A Prospective Observational Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4620-3340","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emil Robert","family":"Stoicescu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Field of Applied Engineering Sciences, Specialization Statistical Methods and Techniques in Health and Clinical Research, Faculty of Mechanics, \u2018Politehnica\u2019 University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazul Boulevard No. 1, 300222 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2894-712X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roxana","family":"Iacob","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Field of Applied Engineering Sciences, Specialization Statistical Methods and Techniques in Health and Clinical Research, Faculty of Mechanics, \u2018Politehnica\u2019 University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazul Boulevard No. 1, 300222 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Anatomy and Embriology, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"},{"name":"Ph.D. School, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adrian Cosmin","family":"Ilie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department III Functional Sciences, Division of Public Health and Management, \u201cVictor Babes\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5863-6613","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emil Radu","family":"Iacob","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Septimiu Radu","family":"Susa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ph.D. School, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5326-5438","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura Andreea","family":"Ghenciu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Functional Sciences, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amalia","family":"Constantinescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ph.D. School, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-2087-6848","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daiana Marina","family":"Cocolea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ph.D. School, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2083-0581","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristian","family":"Oancea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), \u2018Victor Babe\u0219\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Pulmonology, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Diana Luminita","family":"Manolescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, \u2018Victor Babes\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), \u2018Victor Babe\u0219\u2019 University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10002","DOI":"10.7189\/jogh.12.10002","article-title":"A Systematic Review of the Clinical Features of Pneumonia in Children Aged 5\u20139 Years: Implications for Guidelines and Research","volume":"12","author":"Kevat","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. 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