[Acute respiratory failure revealing an idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia: report of a pediatric case].

Eosinophilic pneumonias are a group of heterogeneous disorders, rarely reported in children. We describe a case of a 12-year-old boy hospitalized for an acute febrile respiratory failure. Chest radiograph showed bilateral diffuse infiltrates. A pulmonary eosinophilic infiltration was confirmed by a major blood eosinophilia at 33,800/mm(3) associated with increased eosinophilic rate (90%) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Outcome improved markedly with mechanical ventilation and corticosteroid therapy. Laboratory screenings for parasitic or allergic disease were negative. Bone marrow smear and medullar caryotype eliminated an acute leukemia. No further visceral eosinophilic injury were found. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia should be included in etiological investigation of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) even in young subjects.