Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: report of two cases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v26.i3.13493Keywords:
Asthma, children, pneumonia, spontaneous pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysemaAbstract
Introduction: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare clinical condition in childhood that occurs in most cases with exacerbations of asthma. The most common symptoms are chest pain and dyspnea. Diagnosis is usually made by chest radiography. Conservative treatment is preferred with a favorable prognosis.
Case reports: The first case, a 14-year-old boy with spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema diagnosis, without triggering factor, despite history of asthma. The second one, a 19-month-old boy who developed, as a complication of pneumonia, a spontaneous thoraco-cervical pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax. The evolution was favorable, in the first case only with symptomatic treatment and in the second, progressive respiratory improvement was observed, after a chest drain insertion.
Discussion/Conclusions: These cases are examples of spontaneous pneumomediastinum that highlights the rarity of this disease in this age group.
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