A Twenty Five Day Struggle To Save An African Infant's Life

A nine month old girl was transferred to our hospital in respiratory distress after being fed hot porridge by her mother. Was the respiratory distress due to a burn of her larynx or did the porridge enter her lungs? Examination of the larynx revealed a swollen, reddened larynx obstructing her breathing and an endotracheal tube was passed relieving her airway obstruction. In order to prevent the child from removing her life supporting endotracheal tube, she was sedated; a feeding tube was also passed. She developed pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea, abdominal distention and her endotracheal breathing tube came out on the eighth day. At that time, the swelling of her larynx had subsided and she was able to breath. Finally on the twenty-fifth day, after her mother had been educated on feeding, she was well enough to be sent home.

 Examining the infant girl prior to discharge.

 Burned, swollen larynx with endotracheal tube passed through her vocal cords.

                                                             
  Ready to go home.