ABSTRACT

Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy is a type of interstitial and diffuse lung disease in children. We present the clinical case of a male infant, who began showing symptoms at three months of age characterized by poor weight gain, tachypnea and wheezing; history of a hospitalization with diagnosis of bronchiolitis, but did not show clinical improvement despite treatment with systemic glucocorticoids and bronchodilators. A study approach was initiated with chest tomography, revealing ground-glass opacities primarily affecting segment 3 of the right lung, as well as the middle lobe and lingular region, concluding diagnosis of childhood neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia based on the clinical and tomographic findings. Interstitial lung disease in infants is often underrecognized, as its symptoms can easily be mistaken for other acute lung pathologies. Therefore, it is important to maintain a high index of suspicion to enable timely diagnosis.

KEYWORDS

neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia, childhood interstitial lung disease, tachypnea.

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