Utility of Chest Radiographs in Children Presenting to a Pediatric Emergency Department With Acute Asthma Exacerbation and Chest Pain.

Objectives: Previous studies have not evaluated the utility of obtaining chest radiographs (CXR) in patients with acute asthma exacerbation reporting chest pain. The aims of this study were to evaluate the symptom of chest pain as a predictor for clinicians obtaining a CXR in these patients and to evaluate chest pain as a predictor of a positive CXR finding.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients, ages 2 to 18 years, presenting for acute asthma exacerbation to the emergency department from August 1, 2014, to March 31, 2016.