Chest Imaging

Parainfluenza viral pneumonia

Parainfluenza virus generally affects children producing symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection including low-grade fever, mild malaise, rhinorrhoea and occasionally croup. Generally these infections occur in the winter months, most likely as a result of droplet infection and at times produce actual pneumonia and bronchiolitis with cough and wheezing. Diagnosis can be established by a rise in antibody titres but the disease is generally self-limiting. Chest radiographs may demonstrate air trapping with overinflation and occasionally peribronchial interstitial thickening. Actual lung parenchymal involvement may produce heterogeneous or homogeneous opacities which can be focal or diffuse. Hilar lymphadenopathy and pleural effusions have been reported. Superimposed bacterial pneumonias are frequently reported as a complicating factor.

PGO