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Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: a paediatric case

Davide Tassinari1, Chiara Di Silverio Carulli, Francesca Visciotti

  • 1Department of Paediatric Emergency, S Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. davide.tassinari@aosp.bo.it

BMJ Case Reports
|April 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a rare pediatric lung disorder. Prompt diagnosis and corticosteroid treatment led to a dramatic recovery in an 11-year-old asthmatic girl.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Rare Respiratory Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a rare inflammatory lung condition affecting children.
  • CEP presents with respiratory and systemic symptoms, but generally has a good prognosis.

Observation:

  • An 11-year-old girl with asthma presented with a 3-month history of cough, dyspnea, weight loss, and fatigue.
  • Imaging revealed peripheral pulmonary infiltrates, nodules with ground-glass halos, and blood eosinophilia, suggesting eosinophilic lung disease (ELD).

Findings:

  • Diagnosis of CEP was confirmed after excluding other ELDs.
  • The patient showed a dramatic positive response to oral corticosteroid therapy.

Implications:

  • Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric CEP are crucial for favorable outcomes.
  • Corticosteroids are effective in managing CEP, even in children with pre-existing asthma.

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