Lung Ultrasound in Children: Principles, Techniques, and Clinical Applications

Lung ultrasound (LUS) has become established as a pivotal, non-ionizing imaging modality within pediatric medicine, facilitating expedited, point-of-care evaluation of diverse respiratory pathologies while eliminating patient exposure to harmful radiation. This narrative review summarizes contemporary clinical evidence regarding LUS and discusses its current utilization within pediatric medicine, focusing on fundamental physics, acoustic artifacts, standardized scanning protocols, and primary clinical indications. LUS effectively detects and characterizes pleural effusion, pulmonary consolidation, interstitial syndromes, and pneumothorax, demonstrating diagnostic performance comparable to chest radiography across numerous clinical settings while offering highly advantageous utility within diverse point-of-care clinical environments. Educational research indicates that proficiency in LUS is attainable relatively rapidly, though mastery necessitates a defined learning curve and standardized training. Consequently, LUS serves as a powerful adjunct to physical examinations in pediatrics, enhancing diagnostic precision, guiding interventions, and facilitating sequential monitoring whilst minimizing cumulative radiation. Future pediatric-focused research remains essential to refine standardized protocols, validate quantitative assessment instruments, and integrate novel technologies into clinical practice.