Peanut aspiration masquerading as an asthma exacerbation : case report

A case is discussed of a child who presented with wheeze, cough and respiratory distress. Because of her history of asthma she was admitted and treated for an acute exacerbation of that asthma. Significant diagnostic delay occurred before the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration was made. Not all that wheezes is asthma. There are many conditions that may be mistaken for asthma. Aspirated foreign body is an important differential diagnosis for asthma. Peanut aspiration can masquerade both as 'asthma' (wheezing in a non-asthmatic child) and as 'an exacerbation of asthma' (wheezing in an established asthmatic).