Infected Cavitations, Bullae and Interstitial Lung Disease in a COVID-19 Patient in Lima, Peru

Francisco Arias; Alfredo Chiappe; Jorge Rey de Castro; Jorge Zagaceta

doi:10.12890/2021_003004

Infected Cavitations, Bullae and Interstitial Lung Disease in a COVID-19 Patient in Lima, Peru

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2021 Dec 29;8(12):003004. doi: 10.12890/2021_003004. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Francisco Arias¹, Alfredo Chiappe^{1

2}, Jorge Rey de Castro¹, Jorge Zagaceta^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Clínica Angloamericana, Lima, Peru.
² Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad de Piura, Lima, Peru.

Abstract

A 48-year-old Peruvian man was diagnosed with COVID-19 in December 2020. His infection resolved and he was discharged from hospital after 14 days. However, 1 week later he presented with haemoptysis, malaise, pleuritic pain, infected cavitations, bullae, extensive interstitial lung disease and pneumomediastinum. He recovered after antibiotic treatment and was discharged after 8 days. His symptoms may have been due alveolar rupture due to persistent cough during and after diffuse inflammation of the lung parenchyma caused by COVID-19 infection.

Learning points: SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with lung bullae and cavitations as COVID-19 sequelae.Patients with respiratory problems after COVID-19 should be monitored closely and undergo pulmonary tests.COVID-19 patients may experience complications for several months due to bacterial infections.

Keywords: COVID-19; bullae; cavitations; interstitial lung disease; pneumomediastinum.