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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
4 year old with atelectasis in left lower lung field
Answered by
CO
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
4 year old with atelectasis in left lower lung field
by 1230decatur, Feb 20, 2008 01:16PM
My 4 year old daughter has had serious respiratory issues that have not yet been diagnosed by her pediatrician or pulmonologist. Whenever she gets a cold, it quickly turns into a respiratory condition - atelectasis in left lower lung field (at least 10 times). She has had a chest CT scan with normal results, a CF sweat test with normal results, has no immunology isssues, yet is suffering with this problem. She currently takes the following asthma meds (singular, advair MDI and xopenex via the nebulizer when coughing).
No one seems to know what the problem can be. She started having the problem when she was 2 1/2 and caught pnuemonia (pneumonia).
She is currently on her third round of antibiotics this month.
Any ideas???
A concerned MOM
No one seems to know what the problem can be. She started having the problem when she was 2 1/2 and caught pnuemonia (pneumonia).
She is currently on her third round of antibiotics this month.
Any ideas???
A concerned MOM
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Feb 22, 2008 05:42PM
, Feb 22, 2008 05:42PM
The combination of a negative cystic fibrosis (CF) sweat test and a normal CT scan would argue against the diagnosis of CF, but not totally exclude it. There are other diseases of the airways that can be associated with recurrent atelectasis and/or infection, such as bronchomalacia resulting in airway collapse. There might or might not be a suggestion of this on CT scan. You might want to ask your daughter’s pulmonary doctor if what has been interpreted as atelectasis could be lung sequestration, or if she could be having gastric reflux with aspiration causing pneumonia/atelectasis.
A ventilation lung scan might give indication of a portion of under-ventilated lung, which in turn could allow for a guided bronchoscopy to rule out plugging or some form of congenital airway narrowing.
Individuals with asthma are also prone to a condition called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) or sometimes allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) that can result in mucoid impaction of airways, leading to atelectasis or recurrent infection.
You might want to share this with your daughter’s lung specialist or even consider getting a second pulmonologist opinion.
Good luck.
Please give us a follow-up to let us know how your daughter is doing.
A ventilation lung scan might give indication of a portion of under-ventilated lung, which in turn could allow for a guided bronchoscopy to rule out plugging or some form of congenital airway narrowing.
Individuals with asthma are also prone to a condition called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) or sometimes allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) that can result in mucoid impaction of airways, leading to atelectasis or recurrent infection.
You might want to share this with your daughter’s lung specialist or even consider getting a second pulmonologist opinion.
Good luck.
Please give us a follow-up to let us know how your daughter is doing.
