Kartagener syndrome: an unusual cause of respiratory distress in the newborn

Kartagener Syndrome (KS) a rare genetic disorder belongs to a group of disorders referred to as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) where the cilia covering the respiratory epithelium is either immotile or beat in an uncoordinated fashion. It is characterized by a triad of dextrocardia (with or without situs inversus), chronic sinusitis and bronchiectasis as a result of poor mucociliary clearance of mucus and bacteria. This may lead to respiratory distress in the newborn period. This is a case report of a 14-day old male who presented with respiratory distress (which was noticed soon afterbirth) and features suggestive of KS. KS should be suspected in neonates presenting with respiratory distress, pneumonia and no risk factors for infection.