Acute lung injury after massive household endotoxin exposure.
Household exposures may result in a variety of respiratory illnesses. Most of these inhalation injuries are benign and self-limited. However, an acute injury that results in exacerbation of asthma or chronic fibrosing processes may be life-threatening. We report the case of a patient who suffered a massive household dust exposure when the bag of his upright vacuum cleaner exploded. Inhalation of the dust resulted in respiratory distress characterized by non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. We believe this is the first report of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as a result of endotoxin exposure from the inhalation of household dust.
Sarkar
P
P
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN 37684-4000, USA.
Fields-Ossorio
C
C
Byrd
R P
RP
Roy
T M
TM
D000368:Aged; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*