Radiologic findings in acute childhood asthma

One hundred and seventy-eight admissions of 142 children with acute asthma were reviewed and graded for clinical severity. Abnormalities including consolidation (21%), atelectasis (3%) and pneumomediastinum (2%) were found on chest radiographs, most commonly in patients with clinically moderate or severe acute asthma. Hyperinflation proved difficult to assess, but was present in only 67% of admissions using the criteria described. The frequency of complications detected justifies the use of chest radiographs in assessing children admitted to hospital for acute asthma.