Síndrome de Löeffler em Lactente com infecção com Ascaris lumbricoides: um relato de caso

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.863182501085

• Palavras-chave: Síndrome de Loeffler; pneumonia eosinofílica; parasitose; helmintíase; lactente

• Keywords: Loeffler's syndrome; eosinophilic pneumonia; parasitosis; helminthiasis; infant

• Abstract: Case Report: A 1-year-old female infant, born and residing in João Pessoa, Paraíba, presented with severe respiratory symptoms and progressive worsening, requiring mechanical ventilation and ICU admission. During hospitalization, the condition deteriorated, with extubation failure and no response to conventional therapy. Subsequently, the discovery of helminths in the endotracheal tube led to the suspicion of Loeffler’s Syndrome (LS), prompting initiation of albendazole therapy, which resulted in significant clinical and radiological improvement. The progression of the case highlights the importance of differential diagnosis in atypical respiratory syndromes, especially in parasitosis-endemic areas.Discussion: LS is a transient eosinophilic pulmonary condition, typically associated with helminthic infections such as Ascaris lumbricoides, and is rare in infants. Pulmonary larval migration is one of the main causes of the respiratory symptoms and contributes to the diagnostic difficulty, particularly in the absence of eosinophilia in early stages. Although LS is usually self-limiting, it may present with severe manifestations in vulnerable populations, such as young children from low-income backgrounds. The evolution of this case underlines the need for accurate differential diagnosis in cases with atypical progression and poor therapeutic response.Final Considerations: This case reinforces the clinical relevance of suspecting LS in patients with poor response to initial treatment and emphasizes the importance of thorough physical examination, careful imaging analysis, and inclusion of parasitic infections in the differential diagnosis. The positive response to albendazole confirmed the helminthic etiology. Lastly, the report highlights the urgent need for effective public health policies aimed at preventing parasitic infections, particularly in areas lacking adequate sanitation.