%0 Journal Article
%T Ultrasound Value in the Management of Parapneumonic Pleural Effusions in a Limited-Resource Setting: A Case Report
%A Joseph-Francis Nwatsock
%A Ambroise-Merci Seme Engoumou
%A Maggy Mbede
%A Christopher Vagoda Sinba£¿
%A Christopher Vagoda Sinba£¿
%A Amos Ela Bela
%A Emilienne Guegang Goujou
%J Open Journal of Radiology
%P 134-138
%@ 2164-3032
%D 2023
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojrad.2023.133014
%X Pleural effusion is a common complication of acute lung infection, with rising morbidity and mortality. If poorly treated, parapneumonic effusion evolves to the fibrino-purulent stage wherein antibiotic therapy alone becomes inadequate. Chest CT is the gold standard diagnostic imaging tool, however, in a resource-limited context, it may not be performed. Chest ultrasound can therefore be an alternative for drainage and intermittent follow-up of complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions. We report the case of a 4-year-old child who presented with cough, breathing difficulties and fever for over two weeks and in whom an initial chest X-ray revealed a left hemithorax white-out with an air-fluid level. Chest ultrasound revealed a left pleuropulmonary massive fluid collection with an encysted empyema. It also allowed ultrasound-guided pleural effusion drainage of a fibrino-purulent liquid which tested positive for <em>Kocuria kristinae</em>, a bacterium sensitive to gentamycin, vancomycin, norfloxacin and clindamycin. The next follow-up ultrasound checks showed improvement and the control chest X-ray performed one month later demonstrated pulmonary functional recovery. This case highlights the importance of ultrasound in the management and follow-up of this chest pathology in resource-limited settings.
%K Chest Ultrasound
%K Ultrasound-Guided Pleural Puncture
%K Parapneumonic Effusion
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=126771