Infant presenting with pulmonary haemorrhage as a sequelae of accidental
asphyxiation
Abstract
Pulmonary haemorrhage in children is rare. Respiratory infections,
foreign body aspiration, cystic fibrosis and congenital heart diseases
remain the leading causes. We present a 7- week-old male infant,
previously fit and well who developed pulmonary haemorrhage while
breastfeeding in a sling strapped to mother. We hypothesise that
accidental asphyxiation during breast feeding, generated forced
inspiratory effort against an obstructed upper airway and led to
negative pressure pulmonary oedema (NPPE) and pulmonary haemorrhage.
Accidental asphyxiation should be considered in the differential
diagnosis of children presenting with pulmonary haemorrhage.