Abstract
Septic pulmonary emboli caused by Staphylococcus aureus is rarely encountered in children. Such a clinical condition may become fatal unless it is treated rapidly and meticulously. A 13-year-old boy was admitted to the study center due to fatigue, fever, generalized myalgia and respiratory distress that had continued for the last three days. Chest X-ray showed bilateral pleural effusion and widespread parenchymal infi ltration in both lungs. Thorax computed tomography demonstrated multiple lymphadenopathies (with the largest diameter 16 mm) as well as many peripheral and subpleural consolidations (with the largest diameter 3 mm) that consisted of air bronchograms surrounded by indentations. A combination of vancomycin, meropenem and clindamycin was administered due to the initial diagnosis of septic pulmonary emboli. Peripheral blood culture revealed Staphylococcus aureus during clinical follow up and the diagnosis was therefore changed to staphylococcal emboli. There was no other involvement than that of the pulmonary parenchyma and serum IgA level was below the normal range so a diagnosis of selective IgA defi ciency was made. The patient’s clinical characteristics, laboratory values and radiological imaging fi ndings improved signifi cantly and he was discharged six weeks after the commencement of medical treatment
Keywords: Child, IgA defi ciency, Septic emboli
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