Characteristics of Children With Clinically Suspected Pneumonia and Viral Infection.

This study examined whether clinical and radiographic features of children with suspected pneumonia differ according to viral infection, focusing on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Among 2115 children undergoing chest radiography, 718 had viral testing, revealing that RSV was associated with more frequent tachypnea, retractions, rales, and viral radiographic features such as peribronchial thickening, while influenza cases more commonly presented with cough and sore throat, and COVID-19 cases showed fewer typical symptoms like fever and cough. Radiographic pneumonia rates did not differ by virus, nor did antibiotic prescribing patterns or recovery outcomes, although persistent cough was less common after COVID-19. These findings may assist clinicians in identifying viral etiologies of pneumonia when viral testing is unavailable, potentially guiding more targeted treatment decisions.