Persistent Tachypnea and Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Infant: An Unexpected Etiology

Persistent tachypnea and failure to thrive during infancy have a broad differential diagnosis which includes pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare entity in children. DAH requires an extensive work-up as certain conditions may need chronic therapy. Cardi...

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Main Authors: John Bishara, Angela Webb, Christina Valsamis, Claudia Halaby, Melodi Pirzada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Pediatrics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3168257
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author John Bishara
Angela Webb
Christina Valsamis
Claudia Halaby
Melodi Pirzada
author_facet John Bishara
Angela Webb
Christina Valsamis
Claudia Halaby
Melodi Pirzada
author_sort John Bishara
collection DOAJ
description Persistent tachypnea and failure to thrive during infancy have a broad differential diagnosis which includes pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare entity in children. DAH requires an extensive work-up as certain conditions may need chronic therapy. Cardiovascular disorders are included in the etiology of DAH. We present a case of an 8-month-old female with a moderate, restrictive patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) admitted to the hospital with respiratory distress and failure to thrive. An extensive work-up into tachypnea including multiple echocardiograms did not find an etiology. Open lung biopsy was performed and consistent with pulmonary hypertension. After closure of the PDA, patient’s tachypnea improved, and she was discharged home with periodic follow-up showing a growing, thriving child. When an infant presents with tachypnea, a respiratory viral illness is often a common cause. The diagnosis of persistent tachypnea requires further investigation. Echocardiography, although readily available, may not always be sensitive in detecting clinically significant pulmonary hypertension. A clinician must have a heightened index of suspicion to proceed in evaluating for causes of tachypnea with a nonrespiratory etiology.
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spelling doaj-art-c9b5aa57a63a440dad7ffbbe3f551d542025-08-20T02:19:35ZengWileyCase Reports in Pediatrics2090-68032090-68112016-01-01201610.1155/2016/31682573168257Persistent Tachypnea and Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Infant: An Unexpected EtiologyJohn Bishara0Angela Webb1Christina Valsamis2Claudia Halaby3Melodi Pirzada4Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USADepartment of Pediatric Pulmonology, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USADepartment of Pediatric Pulmonology, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USADepartment of Pediatric Pulmonology, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USADepartment of Pediatric Pulmonology, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USAPersistent tachypnea and failure to thrive during infancy have a broad differential diagnosis which includes pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare entity in children. DAH requires an extensive work-up as certain conditions may need chronic therapy. Cardiovascular disorders are included in the etiology of DAH. We present a case of an 8-month-old female with a moderate, restrictive patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) admitted to the hospital with respiratory distress and failure to thrive. An extensive work-up into tachypnea including multiple echocardiograms did not find an etiology. Open lung biopsy was performed and consistent with pulmonary hypertension. After closure of the PDA, patient’s tachypnea improved, and she was discharged home with periodic follow-up showing a growing, thriving child. When an infant presents with tachypnea, a respiratory viral illness is often a common cause. The diagnosis of persistent tachypnea requires further investigation. Echocardiography, although readily available, may not always be sensitive in detecting clinically significant pulmonary hypertension. A clinician must have a heightened index of suspicion to proceed in evaluating for causes of tachypnea with a nonrespiratory etiology.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3168257
spellingShingle John Bishara
Angela Webb
Christina Valsamis
Claudia Halaby
Melodi Pirzada
Persistent Tachypnea and Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Infant: An Unexpected Etiology
Case Reports in Pediatrics
title Persistent Tachypnea and Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Infant: An Unexpected Etiology
title_full Persistent Tachypnea and Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Infant: An Unexpected Etiology
title_fullStr Persistent Tachypnea and Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Infant: An Unexpected Etiology
title_full_unstemmed Persistent Tachypnea and Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Infant: An Unexpected Etiology
title_short Persistent Tachypnea and Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Infant: An Unexpected Etiology
title_sort persistent tachypnea and alveolar hemorrhage in an infant an unexpected etiology
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3168257
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