Idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia.

A 44-year-old asthmatic male patient presented to the health centre with a 3-week history of coryzal symptoms, persistent productive sputum and shortness of breath. The chest X-ray (CXR) revealed symmetrical, perihilar airspace shadowed with peribronchial cuffing and bilateral reticular markings. The patient did not improve despite treatment, and hence a high resolution CT (HRCT) scan of the thorax was recommended. The HRCT showed smooth interlobular septal thickening, central perihilar soft tissue thickening and patches of ground glass changes. Both the CXR and HRCT findings, along with the symptoms and eosinophilia counts, were suggestive of idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia (IAEP) which was confirmed on bronchoalveolar lavage. The patient was successfully treated with steroids. This case highlights the symptoms, diagnosis, management and treatment of IAEP. A rapid diagnosis of this rare disease is essential since it can be completely cured with correct management but can be fatal if left untreated. Once properly treated, this disease does not recur.

Primary laryngeal tuberculosis: An unusual cause of hoarseness.

Tuberculosis (TB) of the larynx is usually associated with concomitant pulmonary TB, but approximately 20% of cases represent primary disease. We report the case of an 85-year-old woman with asthma who presented with a 6-month history of persistent hoarseness. Bronchoscopy confirmed the presence of a lesion in the hemilarynx, and histology identified tuberculoid granulomas that were suggestive of TB. Treatment with a combination of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol led to a complete resolution of symptoms. A high index of suspicion for laryngeal TB is required in patients who present with hoarseness.