A 24-year-old male presented with complaints of fever, chest pain, and shortness of breath of 1 week's duration. His clinical examination showed a pulse rate of 90/min, respiratory rate of 20/min, and blood pressure of 110/80 mmHg. He was anemic. Cyanosis and icterus were absent. He had a history of spinal tuberculosis for which antitubercular drugs (rifampicin, isoniazid (INH), pyrazinamide, and ethambutol) had been started 2 months earlier.
Examination of the respiratory system revealed a decrease in chest movements on the right side. On percussion, there was stony dullness on the right side, and the breath sounds were absent on auscultation of the lower lung fields. The left side of the chest was normal. Laboratory investigation showed a hemoglobin of 9 gm%; the total leucocyte count was 9600/cu mm, with 74% neutrophils, 22% lymphocytes, and 4% eosinophils. Renal and liver function…
