ACUTE LIPID PNEUMONIA

Background. - Lipid pneumonia in children has rarely been described in Europe. In some countries, due to local customs, the course is chroni c. This study describes an acute lipid pneumonia in a young boy. Case report. - A 12 year-old boy, previously treated for a rhabdomyosarcoma , developed acute fever with thoracic pain. A chest radiograph reveale d heterogenous consolidation. The patient was given oral antibiotics, although no improvement was observed. The diagnosis of lipid pneumonia was made by a bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage. Treatment wit h corticosteroids was started. Clinical manifestations improved rapidl y. One month later, chest radiograph and biological findings were norm al. Conclusion. - Diagnosis of lipid pneumonia should be considered in children with an acute febrile pneumonitis non resolving with antibio tic treatment. Examination of the fluid obtained by bronchoalveolar la vage confirms the diagnosis.