Empyema necessitans due to aspergillus in a 3-year-old paediatric patient at a referral hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

We present a case of empyema necessitans due to aspergillus in a young child. The incidence of deep fungal mycoses in children, especially in developing countries is not known. There is paucity of data and access to diagnostics is usually limited. Our patient had received treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis which is endemic in Kenya for four months before diagnosis was made. We present this case to highlight the importance of considering alternative diagnosis when there is non-response to anti-tuberculous therapy.

Keywords

• invasive aspergillosis
• child
• empyema