Acute eosinophilic pneumonia

Case contributed by Yaïr Glick
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Fever, productive cough, shortness of breath for past two weeks. Unresponsive to antibiotic treatment. Asthmatic, smoker.

Patient Data

Age: 18 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

PA upright: Basal-predominant patchy alveolar opacities superimposed on reticular opacities.

2 days later post steroid Rx

x-ray

PA upright: Complete resolution of alveolar opacities, with the persistence of reticular opacities.

Case Discussion

The patient had been on empiric antibiotic treatment prescribed at the health maintenance clinic for a presumptive diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia.

Complete blood count on hospital admission was remarkable for eosinophilia (10,000/µL, with the normal range being 0-400/µL). The patient was treated with ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, and prednisone, with a complete resolution of symptoms within a single day.

The symptomatology, prononuced eosinophilia, chest radiograph findings, and prompt resolution of symptoms after treatment which involved steroids, all point to acute eosinophilic pneumonia.

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