Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations worldwide, contributing significantly to morbidity and healthcare burden. Differentiating between viral and bacterial pneumonia in pediatric patients is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use, and improving patient outcomes.

Traditional diagnostic methods, such as chest radiography and laboratory biomarkers, have limitations in sensitivity and specificity, often leading to overuse of antibiotics. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a promising imaging modality due to its portability, lack of ionizing radiation, and real-time imaging capabilities.

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of LUS in distinguishing viral from bacterial pneumonia in pediatric patients with LRTIs by analyzing specific ultrasound features and quantifying lung involvement through a standardized lung ultrasound score (LUSS).