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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2012
Case ReportsNonaccidental trauma presenting with respiratory distress and pleural effusion.
- Malvika Sagar, Samarth Shukla, and Kelly Bradley-Dodds.
- Department of Pediatrics, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA 19013, USA.
- Pediatr Emerg Care. 2012 Jan 1;28(1):61-3.
AbstractNonaccidental trauma (NAT) is common and presents with varied symptoms. Pleural effusion as a complication of physical abuse has not been described in the past. We report the case of a 10-week-old infant who presented with multiple nonspecific complaints that included respiratory distress, refusal to feed, constipation, and lethargy. Sepsis was the working diagnosis on admission, but a massive pleural effusion and rib fractures seen on chest imaging ultimately led to the diagnosis of nonaccidental trauma. This interesting case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for abuse irrespective of atypical presenting signs.
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