Lung Ultrasound to Diagnose Necrotizing Pneumonia in the Pediatric Patient

Necrotizing pneumonia, a severe complication of community-acquired pneumonia, poses a significant risk of potentially fatal outcomes if not promptly identified and treated. The current standard of care in the emergency room involves an initial plain radiograph of the chest followed by a computed tomography scan, considered the gold standard for diagnosis. In this case report, we present the unique scenario of a 3-year-old child initially diagnosed with pneumonia and subsequently revealed to have necrotizing pneumonia through the utilization of lung ultrasound. This case highlights the potential efficacy of employing lung ultrasound as a primary diagnostic tool for identifying necrotizing pneumonia in the pediatric population, challenging the conventional diagnostic pathway.