A Case of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis in a 15-Year-Old Female Patient

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is an extremely rare pulmonary disease that can be classified into primary, secondary, or congenital types. It typically presents with a pattern of interstitial lung disease. This rare condition is even rare in the adolescent or pediatric age group, making this case particularly rare and interesting. We report a case of a 15-year-old girl who presented with a four-month history of dry cough and exertional dyspnea. After performing a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with analysis of the BAL fluid, she was eventually diagnosed with PAP. She was then referred to a higher qualified center, where a whole lung lavage (WLL) was performed, resulting in significant improvement of her symptoms.