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An interesting cause of fever with acute respiratory distress syndrome


Abstract

Fever with Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common emergency presentation seen in tropical countries like India. Aetiology of ARDS varies depending on regional prevalence, environmental factors and host factors like immunosuppression. Immunosuppression increases the hosts’ susceptibility to opportunistic infections like Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP). We report a 19-year-old HIV negative boy who presented with fever with ARDS, was diagnosed with PJP, and had a CD4 count of 212 cells/mm3.The patient’s CD4 count was found to be low on repeat measurement with a normal hematological profile, bone marrow evaluation along with a repeat ELISA negative for HIV. Hence, the diagnosis of Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia, a rare clinical condition was made.

Keywords

PJP pneumonia, CD4 count, human immunodeficiency virus, Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia

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