[A boy with a rare pulmonary disease; COVID-19 is clouding our judgment]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2020 Sep 17:164:D5214.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

Background: In times of coronavirus, a patient with respiratory symptoms whose chest CT scan reveals ground-glass opacities, COVID-19 may seem an obvious diagnosis.

Case description: At the (currently assumed) peak of the coronavirus crisis, a 12-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital twice for severe respiratory symptoms. A chest CT scan revealed ground-glass opacities.COVID-19 pneumonia was initially thought of. However, it turned out to be a rare interstitial pulmonary disease.

Conclusion: Due to the increased awareness about COVID-19, tunnel vision is lurking. Even during a health crisis, doctors should remain alert to alternative diagnoses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / diagnosis*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / physiopathology
  • COVID-19 / psychology
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Child
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Judgment
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / physiopathology
  • Lung* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung* / physiopathology
  • Male
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Symptom Assessment / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods