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A misdiagnosed laryngeal foreign body causing recurrent wheezing in a pediatric patient: Case report
Francesca Fraccaroli1,2, Davide Tosini1,2, Giorgia Lerario1,2
1Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milan Italy.
Insights
Unexplained recurrent respiratory symptoms in children may indicate a hidden airway foreign body. Prompt airway endoscopy is crucial for diagnosis and treatment in all pediatric cases, regardless of age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
Background:
- Recurrent respiratory symptoms in children often lack a clear clinical cause.
- Foreign bodies in the pediatric airway can present with varied and sometimes subtle symptoms.
- Delayed diagnosis of airway foreign bodies can lead to significant morbidity.
Key Clinical Message:
The recurrence of respiratory symptoms without a clear clinical reason in children can be secondary to the presence of an unknown foreign body of the airways. In such cases, endoscopy of the airways is always necessary, regardless of the patient's age.
Abstract:
The management of foreign bodies of the pediatric airway can be challenging. The clinical presentation may vary and, in case of recurrent respiratory symptoms without a clear clinical cause, the presence of a foreign body of the airway should be suspected. We describe the case of a 13-month-old patient, weight 11 kg, with a misdiagnosed subglottic foreign body causing dysphonia and worsening respiratory distress, removed by means of a direct laryngotracheoscopy in tubeless general anesthesia in spontaneous breathing.
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