Longitudinal Breath Sound Changes During Erythromycin Therapy in Paediatric Diffuse Panbronchiolitis.

Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease of unknown aetiology predominantly affecting middle-aged adults, characterized by chronic sinusitis, productive cough and exertional dyspnea. DPB is rare in children, and its clinical course remains poorly understood. We report a case of DPB in a 13-year-old girl in whom breath sounds were recorded throughout the treatment course using an electronic stethoscope. The patient was treated with low-dose macrolide therapy, which led to improvement in clinical symptoms and pulmonary function, accompanied by parallel changes in abnormal breath sounds. Breath sound analysis revealed that coarse crackles resolved first, followed by sequential amelioration of adventitious continuous sounds from the peripheral to the central airways. Furthermore, a treatment duration of at least 6 months was suggested to be necessary. Breath sound analysis may provide objective information regarding respiratory function and contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of this rare disease.