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Persistent cough and failure to thrive: a presentation of foreign body aspiration in a child with asthma

Amir Kugelman1, Ron Shaoul, Moshe Goldsher

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Bnai Zion Medical Center, The B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. dramir@netvision.net.il

Pediatrics
|May 3, 2006
PubMed

Insights

A foreign body in a child with asthma and persistent cough may cause severe failure to thrive (FTT). Prompt evaluation is crucial, as this presentation is uncommon and requires high suspicion for foreign body aspiration.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Pulmonology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Asthma and persistent cough in children can be complex to diagnose.
  • Failure to thrive (FTT) is a significant concern in pediatric care.

Observation:

  • A case of severe FTT in a toddler with asthma and chronic cough was observed.
  • The underlying cause was found to be a foreign body, which is an atypical presentation.

Findings:

  • Foreign body aspiration can present insidiously, mimicking or exacerbating conditions like asthma.
  • Diagnostic clues include localized physical findings and radiographic evidence on chest X-rays.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for foreign body aspiration in children with persistent cough and FTT, even with a history of asthma.
  • Early and thorough evaluation, including timely chest radiography, is essential for accurate diagnosis and management.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering less common diagnoses in pediatric respiratory symptoms.

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