A 2-year-old child with H/O fever and cough and sudden onset respiratory distress presents to you in the emergency department. X-ray was done, displayed below, the most probable diagnosis is--

Ans. is 'b' i.e., Pneumatoceles o Pneumatoceles are frequent with staphylococcal infections, and they should not be confused with a pulmonary abscess. Pneumatoceles have thin, smooth walls and are seen with an improving clinical picture, whereas pulmonary abscesses have thick, irregular walls with an air-fluid level and the child tends to be very ill Pneumatoceles are thought to be a form of localized pulmonary' interstitial emphysema and are self-limiting with only the rare case of a large; persisting pneumatocele needing surgery.