Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a rare, chronic obstructive airway disease affecting infants and children, often occurring after severe lower respiratory tract infections. We describe the case of a 5-month-old male who experienced recurrent severe pneumonia, a prolonged stay in the pediatric intensive care unit, and ongoing respiratory distress. His condition was complicated by Stage II hypertension, severe acute malnutrition, moderate anemia, and global developmental delay. Serial high-resolution computed tomography scans revealed progressive bilateral ground-glass opacities, consolidations, and bronchiectatic changes consistent with post-infectious BO. The patient required extended mechanical ventilation, long-term supplemental oxygen, multiple courses of antibiotics, antivirals, corticosteroids, and antihypertensive medications. This case emphasizes the diagnostic challenges and complex multidisciplinary management of BO in infancy.
Sharma et al. (Tue,) studied this question.