Childhood empyema

Acute Empyema in Childhood

Empyema is a serious complication of lobar and broncho-pneumonia, especially in children. Nearly 75 per cent of all empyemas occur under the age of ten years. Consequently the importance of early and adequate surgical treatment is evident; but, unfortunately, early diagnosis of empyema is not always easy. If the temperature does not subside after an attack of pneumonia or if the attack is undul...

A Case of Empyema necessitans: An uncommon presentation of Empyema

ABSTRACTIntroductionEmpyema is an accumulation of pus in the pleural space. Empyema necessitans occurs when pus extends through the parietal pleura into the surrounding tissues.Case ReportWe present here a 4 month old babywith severe respiratory distress and anassociated huge boggy swelling over the left side of his chest and back. Evaluation revealed pus accumulated in the pleural space which ...

Massive Empyema

A 22-year-old man presented to a rural Ugandan clinic with three months of progressive dyspnea. He described a non-productive cough and subjective fevers and chills. He appears mildly dyspneic but is in no acute distress. His has a temperature of 37.7°C, pulse of 112 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute, blood pressure of 105/50 mmHg and an oxygen saturation of 93% on roo...

Trichomonas empyema.

Randomised trial of intrapleural urokinase in the treatment of childhood empyema.

BACKGROUND The role of intrapleural fibrinolytic agents in the treatment of childhood empyema has not been established. A randomised double blind placebo controlled trial of intrapleural urokinase was performed in children with parapneumonic empyema. METHODS Sixty children (median age 3.3 years) were recruited from 10 centres and randomised to receive either intrapleural urokinase 40 000 unit...