Hydropneumothorax in Children: A Rare Complication of a Bacterial Pneumonia

• Published in: Case reports in pediatrics Vol. 2016; no. 2016; pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Yock-Corrales, Adriana, Soto-Martinez, Manuel E., Gonzales, Carla, Ortega, Carolina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01-01-2016; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Bacterial pneumonia; Care and treatment; Case Report; Case studies; Children; Complications and side effects; Development and progression; Diseases; Pneumonia; Pneumothorax
• ISSN: 2090-6803; 2090-6811
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/8097105

Hydropneumothorax is an uncommon presentation of a complicated pneumonia, and very few cases in the pediatric population have been reported. This is a case of a 5-month-old patient who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a three-day history of fever, diarrhea, and respiratory distress. His initial assessment suggested a lower respiratory tract infection and because of his respiratory distress and hypoxia a chest X-ray was performed. Other clinical information and radiologic studies will be discussed further, but his chest X-ray suggested a right-sided hydropneumothorax secondary to a complicated pneumonia. He completed 12 days of IV antibiotic treatment and required a chest tube for drainage. Patient was discharged home with a full recovery.