Key result
A vaping patient developed diffuse alveolar haemorrhage secondary to Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia within 24 hours of hospitalisation for an elective lobectomy, and recovered with treatment.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights the potential for Haemophilus influenzae and vaping to cause diffuse alveolar haemorrhage, which requires immediate recognition and empirical treatment with steroids and antibiotics.
Alerts clinicians to consider DAH with H. influenzae in vapers; hypothesis-generating and leaves causal role open pending further study.
Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is known to occur from several infectious and non-infectious aetiologies. Among the infectious aetiologies, Haemophilus influenzae , an organism known to cause community-acquired pneumonia, has not been reported in association with DAH prior to this case. On the other hand, vaping, an evolving epidemic concern, has been linked to various types of lung injury, including DAH. However, DAH related to vaping is only limited to several case reports. Our case describes H. influenzae pneumonia with DAH in a patient known to have vaped until the night prior to elective lobectomy for lung cancer and developed DAH within 24 hours of hospitalisation. He subsequently recovered with treatment. DAH requires immediate recognition, and healthcare providers need to be aware that neither haemoptysis nor decrease in haemoglobin level is necessarily associated. Prior to diagnosis, empirical treatment with intravenous steroids and antibiotics can be life-saving.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Kubbara et al. (2021) conducted a case report in Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia (n=1). Vaping and Haemophilus influenzae infection was evaluated on Development of diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and clinical recovery. A vaping patient developed diffuse alveolar haemorrhage secondary to Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia within 24 hours of hospitalisation for an elective lobectomy, and recovered with treatment.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: