Presentation
Fever, abdominal pain.
Patient Data
Left lower lobe (LLL) alveolar infiltrate. Minute amount of left pleural effusion.
Heart and upper mediastinal width within normal limits, left-sided aorta.
Trachea and mainstem bronchi normal.
Osseous structures are normal.
Consolidation with air bronchogram at base of left lower lobe. Minimal amount of pleural fluid.
Case Discussion
History of fever up to 40°C, abdominal pain, and vomiting, all of which began on the morning of her admission. Fever reacted well to acetaminophen. At the ER, no fever. The abdomen was soft and non-tender. On auscultation, reduced air entry to the left lung base, so a chest x-ray was done, which showed a LLL infiltrate. Ultrasound was then done on the spot for assessing the amount of accompanying pleural fluid.