Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025
Author Spotlight: Investigating the Pathophysiology of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Published on: May 10, 2024
Pneumonia eosinofilic in pediatrics, clinical cases
Marcela Linares P1, Victor Monreal E1, Paola Gomez P1
1Servicio de Pediatría, Clínica Indisa, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Pediatric Eosinophilic Pneumonia (EP) is rare. Suspect EP in children with persistent pneumonia unresponsive to treatment, especially with peripheral eosinophilia. Diagnosis involves bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophilia or lung biopsy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Rare Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Eosinophilic Pneumonia (EP) is a rare pediatric disorder.
- Characterized by eosinophil infiltration in lung interstitium.
- Can be primary/secondary, acute/chronic.
Observation:
- Two infants with respiratory failure initially diagnosed with viral pneumonia.
- Both had asthmatic mothers, fever, persistent chest X-ray infiltrates, and peripheral eosinophilia.
- One required prolonged oxygen, diagnosed via lung biopsy; the other needed mechanical ventilation, diagnosed by BAL eosinophilia.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of EP in infants requires high suspicion with persistent pneumonia.
- Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophilia (>20%) or lung biopsy confirms EP.
- Both cases showed excellent response to systemic corticosteroids.
Implications:
- EP should be considered in pediatric pneumonia cases unresponsive to standard treatment.
- Early diagnosis and corticosteroid therapy are crucial for favorable outcomes.
- Further research into pediatric EP is warranted.
Introduction:
Eosinophilic Pneumonia (EP) is a very rare disorder in Pediatrics. It is characterized by the infiltra tion of eosinophils in the pulmonary and alveolar interstitium, and may be primary or secondary as well as present an acute or chronic progress.
Objective:
to present 2 pediatric EP clinical cases which were diagnosed at the pediatric intensive care unit of Clinica Indisa in Santiago, Chile between 2014 and 2017.
Clinical Cases:
Two older infants, who were hospitalized due to respiratory failure with a diagnosis of viral pneumonia. Both have asthmatic mothers. Additionally, they both had febrile syn drome, persistent condensation images in the chest x-rays, and peripheral eosinophilia throughout the course of the disease. One of the infants required oxygen for more than one month, and there was no eosinophilia in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In this case, the diagnosis of EP was reached via pulmonary biopsy. The other infant required mechanic ventilation for 28 days, and was diagnosed due to eosinophilia greater than 25% in the bronchoalveolar lavage. Both patients had excellent res ponse to systemic corticosteroids.
Conclusion:
After ruling out other causes, EP should be suspected in children with pneumonia diagnosis, and persistent symptoms that do not respond positively to treatment, especially if associated with peripheral eosinophilia. The diagnosis of EP in pediatrics is confirmed with eosinophilia greater than 20% in BAL and, in some cases, it is necessary to perform a lung biopsy.
More Related Videos
11:32Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
06:15Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....