Role of Chest X-Ray in Assessing Severity of Pneumonia in Children Aged 1–5 Years

Background: Pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age worldwide. Chest radiography (CXR) is widely used as an adjunct diagnostic tool to evaluate pulmonary involvement and complications of pneumonia. However, its role in assessing the severity of pneumonia and guiding clinical management in pediatric patients continues to be an important area of research. Aim: To evaluate the role of chest X-ray in assessing the severity of pneumonia in children aged 1–5 years admitted to a tertiary care centre. Methods: A hospital-based observational study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Tripura Medical College and Dr. BRAM Teaching Hospital, Hapania, Agartala, Tripura, India. A total of 140 children aged 1–5 years clinically diagnosed with pneumonia were included. Detailed clinical examination was performed, and chest X-ray was obtained for all patients. Radiological findings such as consolidation, interstitial infiltrates, bronchopneumonia pattern, pleural effusion, and multilobar involvement were recorded. The radiographic findings were correlated with clinical severity based on WHO pneumonia classification. Results: Radiographic abnormalities were observed in a majority of children with clinically diagnosed pneumonia. Findings such as lobar consolidation, bilateral infiltrates, multilobar involvement, and pleural effusion were more frequently associated with severe pneumonia. Mild cases commonly showed minimal or interstitial infiltrates. Chest X-ray findings showed a significant association with clinical severity and duration of hospitalization. Conclusion: Chest X-ray is a useful adjunct investigation for assessing the severity of pneumonia in children. Radiological findings can help identify severe disease, predict complications, and assist clinicians in planning appropriate management strategies.