Childhood diffuse panbronchiolitis: a case report.

Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening lower respiratory tract disease that is particularly common in Japanese people. If left untreated, it progresses to bronchiectasis, respiratory failure, and death. Lack of familiarity with DPB in the non-Far East may result in a failure to correctly diagnose and treat this disorder. We describe a child with DPB. We suggest that DPB is a sinopulmonary disease that is not exclusive to the Asian population and to adults. Its clinical and radiological features should be better known by pediatric pulmonary physicians. 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.