An adolescent boy presented to the clinic with upper chest pain, anterior neck pain and difficulty swallowing 3 weeks following a COVID-19 infection. The pain started a few days before while participating in football practice. He reported no significant trauma or specific incidence when the pain began. His vital signs were stable and within normal limits. There was tenderness to palpation in the upper sternal area and low anterior neck. A chest X-ray was performed and was originally read by the primary care physician as unremarkable. This was followed by the official radiology read, which identified a spontaneous pneumomediastinum. A follow-up CT was confirmatory. The physician recommended rest and minimal activity, and the symptoms gradually resolved in 1 week. A follow-up 1 week after the initial visit revealed complete resolution by radiograph. One week later, a final set of radiographs confirmed sustained resolution of free air in the mediastinum. He was able to gradually return to normal activity.
Keywords: COVID-19; General practice / family medicine; Paediatrics; Pneumomediastinum.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.