What is often seen on CXR in cases of pneumonia in infants?

In cases of pneumonia in infants, variable infiltrates are commonly observed on chest X-rays. This finding reflects the diverse nature of lung involvement in pneumonia, where the infection can lead to patchy, diffuse, or unilateral consolidation, depending on the severity and type of pneumonia. Infiltrates indicate areas in the lung where fluid or cells are present, often suggesting inflammation due to infection.

Given the dynamics of pneumonia, especially viral or atypical bacterial pneumonia in infants, it is not unusual to see these infiltrates change in nature over the course of the illness. In contrast, the other choices either represent features not typically associated with pneumonia in this age group or are too specific, whereas variable infiltrates provide a broader characteristic that encompasses the range of possible findings.