6-year-old girl in China catches rare lung disease, lungs cleaned with 3.2 litres of 'milk'

A 6-year-old girl living in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, applied to the hospital with complaints of a stubborn cough and shortness of breath that persisted for about two months and did not respond to treatment. The little patient's condition had gradually worsened, and a diagnosis could not be made despite examinations at different health centers. As the symptoms posing a risk to life increased, the family took the child to Wuhan Children's Hospital. Here, the little girl was examined in detail by experts in the Department of Chest Diseases and learned that she faced a diagnosis of 'Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis' (PAP), an extremely rare condition. This disease is characterized by an accumulation that causes the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs to lose their normal function.

According to statements made by experts, in this rare disease, the air sacs inside the lungs fill up with a protein substance that should not normally be present, losing their ability to carry oxygen to the body. The condition is described with analogies to a clogged sponge or a pipe filled with mud. Due to the blockage, oxygen levels in the blood can drop dangerously, and increasing respiratory failure can develop in the patient. This situation was confirmed in the tests performed on the little patient, and it was understood that immediate intervention was required. Facing this condition, which is not commonly seen in medical literature and is difficult to treat, doctors decided on a surgical method called 'whole lung lavage' operation, considering that drug therapy might be insufficient.

The operation planned to save the patient from life-threatening risk was performed as a high-risk procedure requiring a delicate balance. The medical team used special techniques and devices to oxygenate one lung while washing the other. As a result of this successful operation performed under intensive care conditions, a total of 3.2 litres of a milk-coloured, thick substance was drained from the girl's lungs. These substances were protein and fat accumulations characteristic of the disease and had to be removed to clear the blockage in the lungs. Although positive results were obtained after the first surgery, a second washing procedure was performed on the patient to ensure complete cleaning and recovery.

Following the successful operations, significant and visible improvement occurred in the little patient's respiratory functions. Doctors stated that the approximately 3.2 litres of milk-like substance cleaned from the lungs revealed how difficult a process the patient went through and the danger she faced. After the blockages were cleared thanks to the washing processes and the lungs were able to take in air again, the patient was able to return to her normal life. As her health condition stabilized and her body resistance increased, her hospital stay was completed, and the 6-year-old girl was discharged on June 30.

The event received wide coverage in the Chinese press, while expert doctors warned families against the symptoms of this rare disease. It was emphasized that long-lasting persistent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and drops in oxygen levels should not be neglected. It was stated that in such disorders where early diagnosis is vital, if symptoms persist for months, a chest diseases specialist must be consulted. While mentioning the importance of vaccines for protecting lung health in children, it was noted that this successful surgery pushed the boundaries of medicine and offered hope in rare cases.