Paediatric plastic bronchitis in an atopic child; A case report from East Africa

Paediatric plastic bronchitis (PB) is a rare disease characterized by the presence or expectoration of branching airway casts usually in children with cardiac conditions and allergy. It is thought to be due to obstruction or altered drainage of the lymphatics in those with cardiac conditions. Obstruction can be diffuse and thus fatal if untreated. Less than 600 cases have been described in literature and just one in our region in a patient with sickle cell disease. We present a case of a 7-year-old female with acute symptoms suggestive of a lower respiratory tract infection and left hemithorax opacification and bronchial casts on bronchoscopy.