Hydrocarbon aerosol pneumonitis in an adult.
A 20-year-old woman was exposed to a kerosene mist for five days at an insecticide manufacturing facility. She had shortness of breath, fever, severe hypoxemia, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, and a notable reduction of diffusion capacity/total lung capacity ratio. Her symptoms and roentgenographic findings resolved rapidly after cessation of exposure and corticosteroid therapy. Whether her roentgenographic findings resulted from a pulmonary injury similar to that seen with aspirate hydrocarbons is unclear. Industrial exposure to hydrocarbon aerosols is a potential health hazard that may result in short-term and long-term pulmonary disability.
D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000506:poisoning*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning; D007648:Kerosene; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000336:Aerosols; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007306:Insecticides; D007648:Kerosene; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate