CHRONIC ANAEROBIC PNEUMONITIS IN A 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL

A 7-year-old girl was referred for evaluation of chronic pulmonary dis ease associated with nasal symptoms of 4 years duration for which she had received frequent courses of antibiotics. Serial chest roentgenogr ams over a period of 2 years revealed a nonhomogeneous opacity in the right lower lung zone for which she had received 18 months of antitube rculous therapy without relief. Evaluation of the patient led to the d iagnosis of chronic anaerobic pneumonitis, a rare clinical entity in c hildren. In addition, the patient also had bronchial asthma and chroni c rhinitis. Therapy with oral phenoxymethylpenicillin and metronidazol e for 6 weeks along with appropriate antiasthma medications abolished her symptoms and resulted in roentgenologic clearance. Pediatr Pulmono l, 1998; 26:135-137. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.