Purpose or Case Report: Recurrent pneumonia in pediatrics is diagnosed when a child develops 2 or more episodes in a year or 3 or more episodes in total, with radiographic clearing of densities in between episodes. It accounts for 7-9% of childhood pneumonia and is the one of leading causes of preventable childhood mortality worldwide. It presents a diagnostic challenge, and management relies on clinical judgement, careful history and physical examination, and features suggestive of underlying conditions.
Identifying the cause of recurrent pneumonia is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment and reducing morbidity and mortality. It can occur due to localized pathology of the respiratory tract or from complications of systemic disease. Chest radiography is one of the most commonly performed imaging studies in pediatric care. It is easy to perform, readily available even in low-resource settings, and is often the first modality of imaging utilized for investigating pneumonia.
We present a case series highlighting the clinical presentations of various pathologies implicated in recurrent pneumonia and the diagnostic role of radiographs and follow up computed tomography (CT) in its management. We finally present a diagnostic algorithm for recurrent pneumonia and emphasize the importance of following a thorough checklist to ensure precise delivery of care.
Readers of this exhibit can expect to learn about the significance of imaging in the diagnosis of recurrent pneumonia due to:
- Foreign bodies
- Tumors
- Congenital malformations
- Immunodeficiency
Methods & Materials:
Results:
Conclusions: