A Child with Unusually Severe Anaemia Paediatric Idiopathic Pulmonary Haemosiderosis: From Diagnosis to Treatment

A 3-year-old boy YC presented with pallor after an episode of upper respiratory tract infection. Blood tests revealed iron deficiency anaemia and extensive workup for its causes were unremarkable. On identifying persistent pulmonary infiltrates on a contrast computerised tomography scan, workup went along the direction of diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and the ultimate diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) was confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage and thorascopic lung biopsy. Although rare, IPH has a variety of presenting symptoms and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for unexplained anaemia. Physicians must be vigilant for complications from the disease itself and its treatment. Management options are variable but mainstay treatment consists of corticosteroid therapy with or without adjuvant immunosuppressants.