The Complications of Acute Asthma in Children: What They are and how to Find Them

The complications of acute asthma in childhood include atelectasis with or without pneumonia, mucoid impaction of the bronchi, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum, spontaneous pneumothorax, bronchiectasis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. The incidence, pathogenesis, clinical attributes, roentgenographic manifestations, and therapy of these complications have been described briefly and illustrative case histories and roentgenograms taken from the records of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have been set forth. The clinician's reliance upon the radiologist for precise diagnosis in these cases becomes apparent as each complication is examined separately, underscoring the desirability of obtaining a chest film routinely when severe acute asthma presents a problem in management.