Daijiworld Media Network – Pune

Pune, Nov 14: A four-year-old city boy has survived a rare and severe medical condition after doctors at Surya Mother and Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune, successfully treated him for necrotising pneumonia, an aggressive infection in which bacteria destroy lung tissue.

The illness began as a routine fever and cough but rapidly progressed. Within days, the child developed alarming swelling across his face, eyelids, neck, stomach, legs, and genitals. Air pockets formed beneath his skin, leading to visible puffiness and severe breathing difficulty.

Rushed to the ICU on May 1, he remained under intensive care for over three weeks before being discharged.

Dr Sachin Shah, Director of Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Services, said the boy had arrived in an “extremely critical condition”.

“His lungs were so badly damaged that air started leaking into his body. He needed immediate ventilator support, multiple chest tubes to drain air and fluid, and small punctures in swollen areas to release trapped air,” Dr Shah explained. Strong antibiotics, continuous monitoring, and repeated imaging were essential to stabilise him, he added.

Dr Amita Kaul, Senior Consultant and Head of Paediatrics, who led the multi-disciplinary team, said the child had previously undergone treatment and surgery at another hospital, but his condition deteriorated dramatically, forcing an emergency transfer.

“He had several comorbidities, including weak immunity and a low-birth-weight history, which complicated his recovery,” she said. The boy continues to undergo routine follow-ups, with the latest on November 11, and will be monitored for at least two more months.

Dr Kaul noted that respiratory infections can turn unpredictable.

“Even a simple cold can flare up again and cause serious damage. This infection was extremely aggressive and progressed faster than usual,” she said.

According to clinical findings, only 3–4% of pneumonia cases develop into necrotising pneumonia. In this case, the condition became even more unusual due to subcutaneous emphysema, where trapped air spreads under the skin — a complication reported only in isolated cases worldwide.

The child’s mother recalled the ordeal:

“We watched our child fighting for breath, his face swelling, his body full of tubes. We didn’t know if he’d survive. The doctors gave him a new life.”

Doctors caution that pneumonia cases tend to rise during the monsoon and early winter. India continues to record over 1.27 lakh pneumonia deaths annually among children under five, making timely treatment crucial, especially for those with weak immunity or pre-existing conditions.