Endobronchial actinomycosis in a child
Corresponding Author
Pierre Goussard PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
CorrespondenceProf Pierre Goussard, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorHelena Rabie PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorMichelle Marshall MSc, Pathology
Division of Cytology, Tygerberg Hospital, National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorLunga Mfingwana FC Paed(SA)
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorJulie Morrison FC Paed(SA)
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorZane Ismal FC Cardio (SA)
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorFrancois Retief MMed, Anaesthesiology
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorPieter Nel FC Path Micro (SA)
Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorDawood Da Costa MBChB
Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorSavvas Andronikou PhD
Department of Paediatric Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
Search for more papers by this authorPawel Schubert MPhil Paed Path)
Division of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Pierre Goussard PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
CorrespondenceProf Pierre Goussard, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorHelena Rabie PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorMichelle Marshall MSc, Pathology
Division of Cytology, Tygerberg Hospital, National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorLunga Mfingwana FC Paed(SA)
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorJulie Morrison FC Paed(SA)
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorZane Ismal FC Cardio (SA)
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorFrancois Retief MMed, Anaesthesiology
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorPieter Nel FC Path Micro (SA)
Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorDawood Da Costa MBChB
Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorSavvas Andronikou PhD
Department of Paediatric Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
Search for more papers by this authorPawel Schubert MPhil Paed Path)
Division of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Actinomycosis is a rare, indolent and invasive infection caused by Actinomyces species. Pulmonary actinomycosis is very rarely seen in the paediatric population. The classic radiological presentation of thoracic involvement of actinomycosis includes lower lobe consolidation, empyema and periostitis of the ribs. We report a case of endobronchial actinomycosis in a child diagnosed on endobronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Bronchoscopy can be dangerous when performed on these cases, as there is a risk of severe bleeding and large airway obstruction, as was the case with this patient.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests.
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