Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Case Report

A Case of Chemical Pneumonitis After Ingestion of Hydrocarbon: Suk Hwan Kim, Yangjin Jegal, Nari Choy, Yangho Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2009;21(4):406-411. Published online December 31, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2009.21.4.406

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Hydrocarbon is used frequently in the home in places such as the kitchen, garage, and basement. Accidental ingestion of hydrocarbons occurs generally in infants and children in the home. In cases of accidental ingestion, the amount is usually too small to cause medical problems, but can bring about diseases such as chemical pneumonitis.
CASE
REPORT: After ingesting organic solvent mistaken for mineral water, a 53-year-old male complained of cough, fever, and pain in the right upper abdomen, back, and right chest. Simple chest x-ray revealed focal chemical pneumonitis mainly involving the right middle lobe. The resulting lung abscess did not resolve until after treatment with drainage accompanied with antibiotics therapy. The ingested solution was analyzed and found to be a C11~C13 hydrocarbon mixture which has low viscosity.
CONCLUSION
Chemical pneumonitis occurred after ingestion of hydrocarbon solution, and there is evidence of aspiratory mechanism.

Original Article

A Survival Case Sustained Pulmonary Damage After Paraquat Ingestion: Won Oh Choo, Se Hoon Lee; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1996;8(2):223-227. Published online September 30, 1996; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1996.8.2.223

Abstract PDF: The rapid quantification of paraquat in body fluids is of undoubted value in both initial assesment as well as the immediate prognosis of acutely poisoned patients. A 20-year-old woman ingested a mouthful of paraquat. Serum and urine paraquat levels were measured colorimetrically for 48 hours after identifying the presence of paraquat in her urine by a Paraquat test kit. At that time her survivability was considerd to be over 50% according to Proudfoot's scale of time related measured serum paraquat levels. Five days after admission, she began to cough but her chest x-ray picture was normal. However, she persisted to cough and subsequent chest x-rays showed fine reticulonodular densities in both upper and lower lobes. Twenty days after admission, she .was clinically well, and not deteriorated radiologically. Therefore, respiratory function tests were under-taken. They showed reduced lung volume, moderate reduction in ventilatory capacity, and a diffusion defect (DLco: 27% predicted value). Twenty four days after admission, the patient was discharged in good condition except for the sequale of lung involvement. Six months later, she was re-examined and found to be healthy with a large regression of lung lesions on her chest x-ray.

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