Highly alert mom: recognizing Hamman's sign in children and its importance in early detection of a pneumothorax

A 7-year-old boy was brought to a pediatric appointment by his mother due to an abnormal sound coming from his son's chest, that she heard while he was sleeping, loud enough to wake her up.A left-sided pneumothorax was diagnosed.The boy was referred to the emergency department and then promptly treated.One month later, his mother noticed the return of the sound and suspected a relapse, bringing the child to the emergency immediately.Hamman's sign is a distinct and loud sound synchronized with the heartbeat, typically observed in the precordial area.It is commonly associated with changes in body position.It's pathognomonic for left-sided pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum.Although Hamman's sign is rarely encountered as a primary symptom, its presence is crucial for making an accurate diagnosis.Recognizing this rare clinical finding is important as it can help avoid unnecessary diagnostic tests.