A Case Diagnosed Late with Suspicion: A Foreign Body Aspiration

Abstract

Foreign body aspiration is the cause of a frequently seen respiratory problem in the pediatric population. It may be life threatening if diagnosed late. The clinical symptoms as well as physical examination findings are similar to those of upper and lower respiratory tract infections; therefore, it is easily missed. A 15-month-old male patient came to emergency room with respiratory problems that started acutely. Physical examination showed symptoms that were consistent with upper respiratory tract obstruction; therefore, the patient was started on inhaler treatments. The chest X-ray and the primary examination with a laryngoscope showed no specific results. The patient was then admitted to pediatric intensive care unit in order to continue his treatment. The patient showed improvement in time; however, his condition declined as the dosage of the inhaler treatment was decreased. Second examination with a laryngoscope was performed and a foreign body in the larynx was found. The foreign body was removed in the operating room and the complaints of the patient were completely gone. Foreign body aspiration is a clinically important situation for the pediatric population due to the fact that it is seen very commonly and causes acute respiratory problems. The clinical findings are similar to those of upper and lower respiratory tract obstructions or infections and it can be diagnosed easily with a careful physical examination.

Keywords

• delayed diagnosis
• foreign body aspiration
• laryngoscopy
• pediatrics