A Case of Constrictive Pericarditis with Purulent Effusion in an Infant

ABSTRACT

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare disease of infancy and childhood, and is almost always caused by a tuberculosis or other infection. It is usually fatal, if untreated in acute phase. Early diagnosis of this condition is now facilitated by echocardiography and computerized tomography. Favorable outcome seems to depend on early diagnosis assured by echocardiography, early surgical treatment such as pericardiocentesis or pericardiectomy, and appropriate antibiotic treatment according to culture and sensitivity test. We report a case of constrictive pericarditis with severe purulent effusion in a 11-month-old female who presented with fever, irritability and hepatomegaly, and was treated with pericardiectomy and antibiotics.