Mucus plugging as a cause of acute lobar overdistension

Abstract

Acute lobar overdistension in children is usually indicative of foreign body aspiration, especially when a history of a choking episode is recalled. An unusual presentation of asthma as recurrent overdistension of the left lung in a toddler is described. The child had undergone two consecutive negative bronchoscopies with a presumptive diagnosis of foreign body aspiration; however, it was only the antiasthmatic treatment that resulted in an excellent outcome.