Timely diagnosis of a case of Paroxysmal Cold Haemoglobinuria using Donath-Landsteiner test

Donath-Landsteiner (DL) antibodies are immunoglobulins formed in response to a viral, bacterial, or spirochete infection and are capable of inducing paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH), an autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In the past, PCH was most commonly associated with syphilitic infections; however, now, it is more frequently seen in children secondary to upper respiratory infections and DL test is the diagnostic test. We report a case of a 4-year-old male presented with a sudden drop in hemoglobin and hematuria with a 2-week history of fever and upper respiratory tract infection who was subsequently diagnosed as PCH with the help of DL Test.