A curious case of cough: Mounier-Kuhn syndrome in a Namibian female patient

Abstract

We report a case of a 43-year-old female who presented with a history of recurrent productive cough, since her teenage years. Her associated
symptoms included dyspnoea, occasional pleuritic chest pain and rarely, constitutional symptoms. Treated numerous times for lower respiratory tract infections, her symptoms would improve after antimicrobial therapy, but always recurred. She had a background of HIV infection and was virologically suppressed on antiretroviral therapy for nine years. Investigations revealed an active pseudomonas infection and high-resolution computed tomography scan (HRCT) and bronchoscopy confirmed features of Mounier-Kuhn syndrome. The patient was treated accordingly with positive airway pressure, mucolytic agents and chest physiotherapy aimed at aiding mucus clearance and received pneumococcal and influenza vaccines. MounierKuhn syndrome, though rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections. In Africa, more cases may be identified and treated appropriately with timely investigation and treatment.