Article Text
Abstract
A 43-year-old woman presented with a presumed lower respiratory tract infection, with symptoms of persistent cough, lethargy, fevers and night sweats. Initial general practitioner assessment revealed raised C reactive protein and a leucocytosis comprising both a neutrophilia and an eosinophilia. The patient was initially treated for bacterial pneumonia. Despite treatment, the patient’s condition did not improve and hospital admission was arranged for further investigation. Initial physical examination was unremarkable. A chest X-ray revealed bilateral, symmetrical, peripheral consolidation with an upper zone predominance. Subsequently, endobronchial washings revealed abundant eosinophils. A diagnosis of idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia was made, and the patient responded well to oral corticosteroids with complete resolution of radiological appearances 1 month later.
- respiratory system
- radiology
- respiratory medicine
- pneumonia (respiratory medicine)
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Footnotes
Twitter @telswood
Contributors TRE (primary author) initiated the creation of the case report and authored the bulk of the report itself. He also collected the images. He contributed to the literature search. He is responsible for content as guarantor. CT contributed to writing the case report itself, particularly the clinical discussion. She contributed to the literature search. JH was the consultant overseeing the patient’s care, oversaw the case report creation and made edits to the report itself. He also sought consent from the patient. The patient contributed her patient perspective.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.