Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia: Pyrethroid Exposure & Change In Smoking Habit!

J Ark Med Soc. 2016 Jun;112(14):282-3.

Abstract

We report a case of Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia (AEP) in a 29-year-old white woman with recent use of a'flea bomb' (containing pyrethroids) at home while remaining indoors, about 48 hours prior to presentation, and recent change in smoking habit (restarted 2 weeks prior after quitting for 10 years). She presented with two days of worsening fever, shortness of breath, productive cough, developed hypoxemic respiratory failure and ARDS. She required a PEEP of 20 and 100% FiO2 to maintain oxygenation. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed 36% Eosinophils. She was given IV steroids with dramatic clinical and radiological improvement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report associating AEP with pyrethroid exposure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Flea Infestations / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Insecticides / adverse effects*
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / chemically induced*
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / etiology
  • Pyrethrins / adverse effects*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / etiology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology
  • Smoking / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Pyrethrins