Correspondence
Dr. Bhanu Kiran Bhakhri,
Assistant professor,
Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, New Delhi 110001, India.
phone: +919818735574
E-mail: drbhanu04@yahoo.co.in

Background:
Respiratory tract infections can mimic bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in clinical and radiological findings.
Methods:
Description of the clinical course of an affected newborn. Reports of similar observations from the literature have been discussed.
Results:
A 32 week, preterm female who weighed 1260 grams at birth had multiple morbidities (E Coli sepsis, congenital pneumonia, anaemia and patent ductus arteriosus) during the first 3 weeks of life. The baby continued to be oxygen dependent beyond 4 weeks of life despite improvement in other clinical parameters and was diagnosed to be having BPD. Investigations revealed the evidence of cytomegalovirus pneumonitis, which showed clinical and radiological resolution following ganciclovir therapy.
Conclusion:
The atypical presentation of BPD and the persistent respiratory distress warrants ruling out coexisting respiratory tract infections like CMV, as a timely diagnosis and treatment can tremendously alter the morbidity and cost of therapy in these babies.

[ FULL TEXT ]   |   [ PDF ]