Paediatric Airway Foreign Bodies Masquerading COVID-19 Pneumonia- A Diagnostic Challenge in COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Report
Published: 2021-03-15
Page: 200-203
Issue: 2021 - Volume 4 [Issue 1]
Lokesh Kumar P. *
Departments of Otolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605010, India.
Benazir Begum
Departments of Otolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605010, India.
Nipun R.
Departments of Otolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605010, India.
Sunil Kumar Saxena
Departments of Otolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605010, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is not very uncommon in the paediatric population. Its presentation can vary from a simple cough to dangerous pneumonia. This study presents cases with a negative history of FB where the presentation is delayed, findings are masked, and a rigid diagnostic bronchoscopy is done as a supplementary procedure that helped rescue the children from adverse outcomes. The child's grandmother revealed a history of the child playing with ripe tamarind fruit a day before the arrival. We consider the differential diagnosis of croup, Foreign body aspiration and COVID-19 pneumonia. RT-PCR for COVID-19 antigen was negative. The child was treated like a case of viral/bacterial pneumonia. We consider Rigid diagnostic bronchoscopy as the CT findings were suggestive of aspiration pneumonitis. We suggest repeated probing about FBA, a high index of suspicion, earlier radiological investigations like high-resolution CT scans or virtual bronchoscopies, and a quick referral to ENT to help rescue these children faster.
Keywords: Foreign body aspiration, COVID 19, radiological mimic, bronchoscopy.