Kartagener’s syndrome – A case report with review of literature

Lower respiratory tract infections are common in our society. Recurrent lower respiratory tract infections demand a thorough investigative workup as the cause may range from general impairment of the immune system to abnormalities of the mucous or the cilia. Reported here is a childless young married female with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections from childhood who after examination was found to have dextrocardia. D etailed evaluation revealed situs inversus, chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis which favoured a diagnosis of Kartagener’s syndrome. K artagener’s syndrome is an inherited disorder transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner with variable penetrance. Though there is no specific treatment for this condition, a failure to recognise it leads to an unnecessary burden on the patient as well as the hospital by way of frequent, repeated admissions and investigations leading to complications by way of inappropriate treatment.