Bacteria in the lung, as in the case of Ian Matos, causes a serious condition; Fahm – 12/22/2021

After a month in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, diving athlete Ian Matos died last Tuesday (21), at the age of 32. His condition started with strep in the throat, then lodged in the esophagus, and then ended up in the lung. The official cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest.

as Flávio Ferlin Arbex, Professor of Pulmonology at Uniara (University of Araraquara), although there is no definitive information about Ian’s condition, it is possible that mediastinitis may have occurred.

It is an inflammation of the mediastinum (the chest cavity that contains the heart, thymus, lymph nodes, parts of the esophagus, aorta, thyroid, and parathyroid glands). This condition is usually caused by a bacterial infection, which can be transmitted in different ways – from surgical operations to the area.

Patients have severe chest pain, shortness of breath and fever. Other symptoms may also appear, depending on which organs are affected.

“It’s a very serious condition. It’s a very noble area, where the esophagus, heart and lungs are located – thus, it can damage many organs. This is probably the reason for such a long hospital stay,” says the doctor, noting that the problem is relatively rare, Even more so for someone as young as Ian.

Treatment for similar conditions is with antibiotics and, in some cases, surgery to “clean up” the affected area, Arbex says. “But when the infection spreads too far, it’s considered sepsis and it becomes very difficult to control,” he says.