Title: When do I get a chest xray in a child with asthma?<br/>Author: Jenny Guyther<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/314/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
Chest xrays (CXRs) may lead to longer length of stay, increased cost, unnecessary radiation exposure, and inappropriate antibiotic use.</p>
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CXR in asthma are indicated for:</p>
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-severe persistent respiratory distress, room air saturations <91%</p>
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- focal findings (localized rales, crackles, decreased breath sounds with or without a documented fever > 38.3) not improving on >11 hours of standard asthma therapy</p>
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- concern for pneumomediastinum or pneumothorax</p>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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Watnick CS, Arnold DH, Latuska RL, O’Connor M, Johnson DP. Successful Chest Radiograph Reduction by Using Quality Improvement Methodology for Children with Asthma. Pediatrics. Published online July 11, 2018.</p>
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