About lobar tension emphysema in infancy

What is lobar tension emphysema in infancy?

Congenital lobar emphysema is a rare respiratory disorder in which air can enter the lungs but cannot escape, causing overinflation (hyperinflation) of the lobes of the lung. It is most often detected in newborns or young infants, but some cases do not become apparent until adulthood. This disorder may be severe enough to cause associated heart problems (15% of cases) or so mild as to never become apparent. Some cases of congenital lobar emphysema may be caused by autosomal dominant inheritance while others occur for no apparent reason (sporadic).

What are the symptoms for lobar tension emphysema in infancy?

Congenital lobar emphysema is characterized by (1) difficulty in breathing or very rapid respiration (respiratory distress) in infancy, (2) an enlarged chest due to overinflation of at least one lobe of the lung, (3) compressed normal lung tissue in the section of the lung nearest to the diseased lobe, (4) bluish color of the skin due to a lack of oxygen in the blood (cyanosis), and (5) underdevelopment of the cartilage that supports the bronchial tube (bronchial hypoplasia).

Congenital lobar emphysema most often affects the upper lobe of the left lung and, less frequently, the middle right lobe. It may cause the lung tissue to be very fragile and to collapse easily.

Experience suggests that the earlier the age of onset of congenital lobar emphysema, the more likely it is that the symptoms will get worse and lung function will degenerate as well.

What are the causes for lobar tension emphysema in infancy?

Congenital lobar emphysema may result from unknown causes or it may be inherited. Many cases are sporadic, (unknown causes) but others are transmitted by autosomal dominant genes.

Genetic diseases are determined by the combination of genes for a particular trait that are on the chromosomes received from the father and the mother.

Dominant genetic disorders occur when only a single copy of an abnormal gene is necessary for the appearance of the disease. The abnormal gene can be inherited from either parent, or can be the result of a new mutation (gene change) in the affected individual. The risk of passing the abnormal gene from affected parent to offspring is 50% for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child.

Developmentally, congenital lobar emphysema may be the result of abnormally small air sacs (alveoli) in the lung or an unusual structure of the large airways (bronchi).

What are the treatments for lobar tension emphysema in infancy?

Treatment of congenital lobar emphysema depends on the extent of damage to the lungs at the time of diagnosis. When the lung damage is limited, the disease may not cause any adverse affects. However, if the condition seriously affects the patient's ability to breathe, the usual treatment is the surgical removal (resection) of the affected lobe of the lung or the whole lung on the affected side.

What are the risk factors for lobar tension emphysema in infancy?

About 50% of cases occur in the first four weeks after birth. About 75% of cases are found in infants less than six months of age. This disorder is more common among boys than among girls.

Is there a cure/medications for lobar tension emphysema in infancy?

Respiratory disorder in babies with the efficient intake of air in lungs but defected outlet causes inflation in lung lobes, is Lobar Tension. It gives birth to Lobar Tension Emphysema in Infancy.

Diagnosis:

Earlier detection or symptoms of the condition increasing with age are the signals to get the treatments to start at the earliest.

Few such methods of detecting the disease are as follows:

1. X-rays in case of difficulty breathing and chest inflation in infants.
2. CAT (Computer Assisted Tomography) is the method for detecting the part of the lung affected and the levels it is affected to.
3. MRI scans
4. Lung Function Tests

Cure/medications:

1. The trials of different medicines and drugs are in the investigation and experimental stage. But the treatments for Lobar Emphysema in infants are provided according to lung damage.

2. Diagnosis of the disease shows the actual levels of damage according to which it gets treated with the help of various therapists. If the condition is not severe, it will not adversely affect the lungs, and damage is limited to low extents.

3. If the condition goes serious, it needs immediate care and attention with earlier possible surgery of the lungs. The surgery consists of affected lung tissue removal from the area or the whole lung in collateral damage.

Symptoms
Respiratory Distress,Enlarged Chest due to Over-inflation of air lobe/s in lungs,Compressed Lung tissue,Blue Coloured Skin
Conditions
Heart Problems,Cyanosis,Underdeveloped Cartilage,Bronchial Issues,Lack of Oxygen in Blood,Fragile Lung tissue to be Collapsed easily
Drugs
NA

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