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A 4-year-old boy was admitted to our department with fever, cough and dyspnoea, unresponsive to salbutamol and antibiotic therapy. He had previously contracted bronchiolitis at 20 days of life, followed by intermittent episodes of wheeze that never required hospitalisation and responded to short inhaled corticosteroid cycles. He had an atopic family history. On examination, he had dyspnoea, persistent cough with bronchospasm but normal oxygen saturations. Bloods showed elevated eosinophils (2004 µL), a slightly elevated C-reactive protein (1.5 mg/dL) and total IgE (326 kU/L), and specific IgE was raised for various inhalant allergens (box). A chest X-ray was performed (figure 1).
Positive inhalant allergens
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Cynodon dactylon
Dactylis glomerata
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dermatophagoides pteronissimus
Holcus lanatus
Poa pratensis
Phleum …
Footnotes
Contributors NU and GC contribuited to data collection and analysis. NU, GC and MGP collaborated to the clinical follow-up of the patient, and analysed clinical data. SB performed the bronchoscopy; NU and GC wrote the paper. RC and SB interpreted the results and revised the text.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained from the parent/guardian.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.