Pulmonary Hemosiderosis in a Young Child Presenting with Recurrent Respiratory illness and Refractory Anemia: A Case Report

Authors

• Praveen Das, TNMC and BYL Nair Ch HospitalFollow
• Ratnapriya ChowdhryFollow
• Neha Bhongale, TNMC and BYL Nair Ch HospitalFollow
• poonam Wade, TNMC and BYL Nair Ch hospitalFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8774-9752

Corresponding Author

Praveen Das

[email protected]

Abstract

Pulmonary hemosiderosis (PH) is a rare cause of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in children and often presents with nonspecific respiratory symptoms and refractory iron‑deficiency anemia. We report a 2.5‑year‑old girl with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections, severe transfusion‑dependent anemia, failure to thrive, and persistent bilateral pulmonary infiltrates since infancy. Bronchoalveolar lavage demonstrated hemosiderin‑laden macrophages, confirming pulmonary hemosiderosis. Further evaluation revealed C‑ANCA positivity and PR3‑ANCA negativity, raising suspicion for an ANCA‑associated vasculitis; however, there was no renal, ear‑nose‑throat, or other systemic involvement, and a lung biopsy could not be performed. The child was managed with systemic corticosteroids with clinical improvement. This case highlights the diagnostic difficulty of pulmonary hemosiderosis in young children and emphasizes the need for cautious interpretation of isolated serological findings in the absence of definitive systemic features.

Keywords: Pulmonary hemosiderosis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, C‑ANCA, iron deficiency anemia, child

Publication Date

2026

Publisher

JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research

Conflict of Interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Keywords

Pulmonary hemosiderosis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, C‑ANCA, iron deficiency anemia, child

Word Count

1593

Recommended Citation

Das P, Chowdhry R, Bhongale N, Wade p. Pulmonary Hemosiderosis in a Young Child Presenting with Recurrent Respiratory illness and Refractory Anemia: A Case Report. Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2026; 8(2): -. doi: https://doi.org/10.55691/2582-3868.1263

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