1. Introduction and Objectives

Wheezing in infants is an extremely common complaint, being markedly frequent in emergency services. Nonetheless, such a complaint is part of a wide spectrum of pathologies thus, demanding deeper investigation over the differential diagnosis and, therefore, must be addressed in an appropriate manner, with due attention to the semiological propaedeutics in order to implement the necessary therapy as early as possible, and excessive intervention avoided, as much as possible [1, 2].

Wheezing are adventitious sounds resulting from the involvement of small airways, either due to edema or mucous obstruction, being sounds in musical tones, of high frequency and predominantly expiratory, although they may have an inspiratory or biphasic nature in particular cases depending on the individual constitution of the patient and its correlation with the pathology [3]. Amongst the various causes of wheezing, there are bronchiolitis, asthma and pneumonias in their most diverse etiologies. Moreover, one must not neglect the possibility of involvement due to SARS-VOC 2 in the current pandemic scenario [4-6]. Therefore, this case-report seeks to serve as a reminder of the importance of keeping a high suspicion on aspiration pneumonia even in previously healthy patients.

2. The Case

HPDJ, male, date of birth (Dec, 30^th of 2019), then 10 months and 10 days old, enters the medical emergency service of the pediatric hospital on November, 10^th of 2020, with a report of flu-like symptoms that persisted for 10 days (mother associates current symptoms with child choking on bread). Mother reports having treated the child autonomously with amoxicillin + clavulanate for 8 days. Physical examination at the entrance presents axillar temperature of 36.6 ° C, in good general condition, tearful on examination, in moderate tachypnea, groaning, with diffuse rhonchi and wheezing, detailed auscultation was impaired by the child's crying. The possibilities of bronchiolitis, pneumonia and SARS-COV 2 are questioned given the pandemic context, therefore being approached with salbutamol and prednisolone, chest x-ray and complementary exams. Chest x-ray shows diffuse nonspecific infiltration, altered complementary exams are: alkaline phosphatase 311.54 mg / dl (ref 27.0-100.0 mg / dl), AST 59.17 UI/ml (16.0 - 52.0 UI/ml), CRP 37.75 mg/l (0.0-8.0 mg/l), SARS-COV-2 IGG (+) and IGM (-); Leukocytosis pattern (13.62 x 10 ^ 3/ml) at the expense of neutrophils (73.20%), with no reaction in platelet or red blood cell levels.

Given the situation, the patient is hospitalized, under regimen of ceftriaxone, salbutamol and general symptomatic medication. In the hospital bed, the pat.ient allows for a better examination, presenting slight rhonchi in left hemithorax. Patient thus progresses with emesis associated with feeding and the discharge of a greenish secretion. On the 12^th, worsening of the general condition occurs, with the need for basal maintenance serum according to the Holiday-Segar rate, suspended on 14^th. The patient is discharged 6 days after the first hospitalization with recovered general condition and without adventitious sounds or pathological findings on auscultation, being referred to the pulmonology outpatient clinic of the pediatric hospital. During outpatient follow-up, the patient complains of a feverish respiratory condition, and then the possibility of aspiration by a foreign body was questioned. Bronchoscopy performed on 12/02 reveals whitish aspirate in the left lower lobar bronchus, associated with edema aggravated by the presence of tweezers and aspiration, requiring a new clinical stabilization with antibiotic therapy corticosteroid pulse for 5 days. On reopening on Dec, 9^th of 2020, a foreign body is removed (Figure 1), with subsequent improvement of symptoms in 48 hours

Figure 1: Extracted foreign body.

3. Discussion

Bronchial aspiration pneumonia is the pathology resulting from the invasion of the bronchoalveolar tree by solid or liquid foreign bodies, which can cause chemical damage or serve as a means of colonization and proliferation of infectious agents, with their mortality and morbidity strictly associated with the volume of aspirate, aggravating factors individual and evolution time [7]. Although it is much more incident and prevalent in hospitalized patients and with a comorbidity of a neurological nature, a previously healthy patient deserves this suspicion in the face of signs and symptoms of alarm such as: sudden onset dyspnea, crackles and wheezing located in a corresponding anatomical topography and fever without another suspicious focus, especially when you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, recent vomiting caused or not by food choking, alcoholism or seizure [8-10]. Several complications can be associated with the episode of aspiration pneumonia, such as pulmonary effusion, empyema, pulmonary atelectasis and in more severe cases, the development of respiratory failure. As a result of this potential complication, it is necessary to implement the appropriate therapy as early as possible, which often involves the removal of the foreign body whenever possible [7, 11-14].

4. Conclusion

The maintenance of high clinical suspicion and attention to anamnesis are extremely important factors for the early diagnosis of less common causes of common complaints, such as aspiration of a foreign body in the face of a wheezing complaint, thus avoiding prolonged and not fully effective treatments, which can put the child at risk for more severe complications and worse prognosis.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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