Chest radiographic findings in swine origin influenza A (H1N1) viral infection experienced in a tertiary care university hospital in Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study is to review the chest X-ray findings in patients with swine origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.Materials and methodsRetrospective review of the archive of the infection control department with swine flu whom afterwards had a chest X-ray. Search yielded 201 patients of whom only 179 patients had a chest radiographs. Our study group of patients consisted of 100 males and 79 females. Ranging in age from 2 to 89years old with the mean age of 44±4.44. PCR was positive for all patients. However, the rapid antigen test was positive in only 17 of 179 patients.ResultsA normal chest radiograph was seen in 112 patients representing 62.5% of the studied population.Patients who had peribronchovascular increased thickening and increased markings/hyperinflation were 35 representing 19.5% of the studied population.Patients with unilateral ground glass opacity and/or consolidation were 12 representing 0.67% of the study population.Patients with bilateral ground glass opacity and/or consolidation were 20 representing 0.11%.ConclusionThe most common abnormal findings in the chest radiographs in patients with S-OIV infection are increased peribronchovascular markings and hyperinflation, followed by unilateral, or bilateral ground glass opacity and/or consolidation