A child with recurrent pallor and hemoptysis: Diagnostic challenges

Abstract

Abstract A 7-year-old girl presented with severe pallor, cough, and massive hemoptysis. She had been previously hospitalized twice within the time span of 2 years for severe pallor and hemoptysis, each time requiring 2U of blood transfusion. In the recent episode, blood examination was suggestive of iron deficiency anemia, chest radiograph yielded bilateral pulmonary infiltrate, computed tomography scan of lungs showed ground glass pattern, and bronchoalveolar lavage revealed hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Investigations to exclude any secondary causes of pulmonary hemosiderosis were negative. The child was diagnosed as a case of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis and treated with prednisolone.

Keywords

• hemoptysis
• hemosiderin-laden macrophages
• idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis
• pallor