SARS-CoV-2 paediatric chest X-ray findings during the Omicron variant wave.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel beta coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]). The Omicron variant was first identified in November 2021 in multiple countries, including South Africa. The authors aimed to assess chest radiographs to ascertain whether unique radiographic manifestations were related to this variant. Objectives: The primary objective was to identify key chest X-ray findings in the South African paediatric population testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron era. The secondary objective was to help differentiate between Omicron chest X-ray findings and published findings regarding all preceding variants. Method: A retrospective cohort review was conducted at three main healthcare academic centres, in which 94 paediatric chest X-rays were assessed by three consultant radiologists to identify key imaging findings. Results: Ground-glass opacities were more common among infants (45.4%) than children (20%) and adolescents (20%; Conclusion: Infants had the most chest X-ray findings, with peribronchial thickening followed by ground-glass opacities being the most common. Contribution: The findings suggest difference neither between Omicron and preceding waves nor between this study and previously published data.