A twelve-year-old boy with Overlapping Features of Asthma and Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis

A twelve-year-old boy presented with repeated attacks, almost every month, of dry cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing for over 18 months, which responded to bronchodilators and relapsed despite anti-inflammatory prophylaxis. The child had persistent leucocytosis and neutrophilia, not responding to short courses of oral antibiotics given during the relapses. A severe attack necessitated admission to a tertiary care hospital, where he was treated with IV antibiotics for a longer duration. Thereafter, there has been no relapse for the last six months, and the blood counts returned to normal. Thus, this patient's clinical presentation combines bronchial asthma and protracted bacterial bronchitis features.