Idiopatisk pulmonal hæmosiderose hos en et-årig piga med Down syndrom

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease. We describe a girl with Down syndrome who had no major respiratory symptoms until one year of age, where recurrent airway infections and chronic anaemia of unknown aetiology developed. At 20 months of age she had intermittent haemo-ptysis, was investigated with computed tomography and broncho-alveolar lavage and was diagnosed with IPH. After treatment, respiratory symptoms and anaemia resolved and a positive impact on previously impaired growth and psychomotor development was seen. Paediatricians should consider IPH in children with recurrent respiratory symptoms and anaemia.