Aspiration, atelektasis, emphysema with special regard to children and adolescents

The most important factors of acute respiratory diseases in childhood are reported. Above all the characteristic features of airway obstructions in chest films are presented: In newborn suffering from aspiration we find diffuse patchy and illdefined densities combined with atelectasis. In patients with aspiration of foreign bodies a unilaterally localized complete or partial emphysema of the lung in in- and particulary in exspiration followed by mediastinal shifting is pathognomonic. Chest films in in- and exspiration are therefore mandatory. Atelectases are not uncommon in ventilated and operated patients. Emphysemata arise also in such patients; a particular emphysema is the so-called congenital lobar emphysema due to an upper lobe obstruction in most patients. Finally children suffering from spastic bronchitis and asthma present pulmonary emphysema. Generally chest films in different projections and not only in inspiration but also in exspiration allow to establish the correct diagnosis of the most important airway obstructions in children and to give rapid and sure informations for treatment. (orig.)