Plastic bronchitis arising from solitary influenza B infection: A report of two cases in children

Abstract

Plastic bronchitis (PB) is characterized by thick, inspissated, tracheobronchial casts. It is classified as either inflammatory or acellular based on the content of the endobronchial casts. PB has never been reported in a healthy child with solitary influenza B infection. This study is a retrospective case series of two children who presented to our institution in acute respiratory distress. Emergency rigid bronchoscopy was performed with extraction of casts from the L mainstem bronchus in both patients. Influenza B was the only isolate identified. In otherwise healthy children with respiratory distress, influenza B-mediated inflammatory PB must be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Children; Influenza B; Plastic bronchitis.