An unusual masquerade of community acquired pneumonia: Left-side unilateral pulmonary edema.
Lung India 2013;
30:344-6. [PMID:
24339496 PMCID:
PMC3841695 DOI:
10.4103/0970-2113.120617]
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Abstract
The diagnosis of pneumonia is clinical, based on the history of lower respiratory tract symptoms, physical, and/or radiographic signs of consolidation. Several diseases such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and chemical pneumonitis may present with similar symptoms, signs, and chest radiographs, thus delaying the definitive diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment. Unilateral pulmonary edema (UPE) is a rare clinical entity that is often misdiagnosed at first as a focal lung disease. We have presented an unusual case of left-sided UPE in a 76-year-old man who developed acute heart failure resulting from dietary and pharmacological noncompliance. The patient was successfully managed with decongestive therapy and non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
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