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Spontaneous Pneumothorax as a Late Complication of Mild COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report

James Love1, Rico Chenyek1, Amanda Osta1,2

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, USA.

Cureus
|April 22, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Spontaneous pneumothorax (PTX) is a rare complication of COVID-19. This case highlights PTX in a patient with mild COVID-19, linked to inflammatory lung cysts and prolonged coughing.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Spontaneous pneumothorax (PTX) is a known complication of severe COVID-19, often linked to mechanical ventilation.
  • PTX following mild COVID-19 infections not requiring hospitalization is exceptionally rare.
  • COVID-19 can trigger inflammatory responses in the lungs, potentially leading to complications.

Observation:

  • A 37-year-old male presented with spontaneous PTX one month after a mild COVID-19 infection.
  • Chest CT revealed new air-filled cysts, suspected to be inflammatory in origin.
  • Prolonged coughing was hypothesized to cause rupture of these cysts, leading to PTX.

Findings:

  • The patient's PTX was successfully treated with a chest tube and supplemental oxygen.
  • Clinical and radiographic improvement was observed at the two-month follow-up.
  • This case suggests a potential link between mild COVID-19, inflammatory lung cysts, and spontaneous PTX.

Implications:

  • This case expands the understanding of potential pulmonary complications following even mild COVID-19.
  • It underscores the importance of considering PTX in patients with respiratory symptoms post-COVID-19, regardless of initial infection severity.
  • Further research may be warranted to explore the mechanisms linking mild COVID-19 to spontaneous pneumothorax.
Keywords:
clinical complications of covid-19covid-19covid-19 vaccinationmild covid-19primary spontaneous pneumothoraxspontaneous pneumothorax

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