Unraveling the Connection Between Respiratory Distress and Hypertension in an 18-Month-Old Girl

An 18-month-old girl presented to the emergency department with a 1-month history of fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. The cough was progressive over 1 month and productive in nature. Before this admission, she had been hospitalized for 21 days at another facility, where she required intubation and ventilation for 8 days and received IV antibiotics and nebulization for Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. The child was the firstborn of a nonconsanguineous marriage, with an unremarkable antenatal and natal history. Her developmental milestones were appropriate for her age, and she had completed age-appropriate immunizations without adverse reactions. Mother had history of 2 spontaneous abortions, both in the first trimester.