Spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with subcutaneous emphysema, pneumopericardium and pneumothorax: a rare association complicating measles

Summary. A unique case of severe measles complicated by multiple features of gas accumulation is described, on the ground of the available literature evidences. Complications from measles have been reported in every organ system and they may vary by age and underlying conditions. Pneumomediastinum is usually associated with subcutaneous emphysema and pneumopericardium, but rarely associated with pneumothorax. We report extremely rare simultaneous occurrence of self-limiting pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, subcutaneous neck and chest region emphysema, and pneumothorax, in a 19-year-old girl with measles. A review of the literature has documented only one previous report of spontaneous pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax in the course of measles, and no previous cases reported the association of pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumopericardium and pneumothorax complicating measles.