Obligatory medical device diagnostics.
- Spirometry (basic examination as part of pulmonary function diagnostics) – annually from six years of age.
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the medical history, physical examination and obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- X-ray of the thorax (X-ray thorax/chest), in two planes – especially in cases of differential diagnostic ambiguity, severe disease, or concomitant diseases (risk factors) [evidence of a pulmonary infiltrate; the surest radiological sign of an infiltrate is the air bronchogram, also referred to as a positive “air bronchogram”; this is due to the fact that air-filled bronchi in this area stand out from the surrounding area] [due toHeart failure (heart failure), cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), pneumonia (pneumonia), aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia caused by inhalation of foreign substances (often stomach contents)) and respiratory insufficiency (disorder of external respiration, that is, an insufficient exchange of gases in the lungs)].
- Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax/chest (thoracic CT; thoracic MRI) – in complicating courses [due toHeart failure (cardiac insufficiency), cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), pneumonia (pneumonia), aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia caused by inhalation of foreign substances (often stomach contents)), and respiratory insufficiency (disorder of external respiration, i.e., inadequate gas exchange in the lungs)].
- Lung ultrasonography (synonyms: lung ultrasound; lung ultrasonography (LUS)) – for suspected pneumonia (pneumonia) in children (as an alternative to X-ray chest) [due toaspiration pneumonia (pneumonia caused by inhalation of foreign substances (often stomach contents)), pneumonia (pneumonia) and respiratory insufficiency (disorder of external respiration, ie, an insufficient gas exchange in the lungs)]
