EA Berksoy, T Özkul, ÖB Soylu

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM), a spontaneous mediastinal air-leak without any trauma or mechanical ventilation, is a rare paediatric emergency that typically occurs secondary to asthma attack in children. Herein, we report a case of SPM with subcutaneous emphysema in a 3-year-old child following rhinovirus (RV) infection. Case: A 3-year-old male patient was referred from another medical centre when respiratory distress, tachypnoea, and wheezing developed in addition to an ongoing cough and runny nose. It was the first wheezy attack and there was no history of atopy and no allergic diseases, foreign body aspiration, or trauma. Upon examination of the patient, who was admitted to emergency services, there were no pathological findings except for respiratory distress, common crepitations in the bilateral neck and chest walls, and bilateral wheezing during the respiratory system examination. Chest radiograph findings were compatible with pneumomediastinum and RV was detected in his nasal swab sample based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction methods. The patient improved spontaneously with conservative treatment. Conclusions: RV infections in children can lead to serious, life-threatening complications such as pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax. Thus, it should be considered a triggering agent of SPM in children even without a history of asthma.