Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in a child: report of one case

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is uncommon in children. We report a 3-year-old girl who was presented with acute pale-looking appearance, hemoptysis, hematemesis and shortness of breath. This patient was confirmed to have pulmonary hemorrhage by the presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using a flexible bronchoscope. Other causes of PH including glomerular, cardiac and immunological disorder were excluded by normal laboratory studies. She was primarily treated by oral prednisolone, but due to recurrent hemoptysis, immunosuppressive agent was added for maintenance therapy. Pediatricians should consider PH in a patient who has recurrent dyspnea, hemoptysis and iron deficiency anemia.