title: Metal fume fever presenting as aseptic meningitis with pericarditis, pleuritis and pneumonitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metal fume fever (MFF) is a well-known complication of zinc oxide fume inhalation. Prompt recognition of this condition is essential for the proper medical management of this self-limited disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a unique and unusual case of MFF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our patient is a 25-year-old male welder who had MFF and presented with aseptic meningitis with pericarditis, pleuritis and pneumonitis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of MMF presenting with these signs and symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MFF can present with a systemic inflammatory response causing a multi-organ serositis. Our case highlights the utmost importance of obtaining an occupational history on all our patients, even if they are critically ill.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 West Harrison Street, Suite 054, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. hhassaba@rush.edu
authors.forename: Hesham A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hassaballa
authors.forename: Omar B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Lateef
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000139:chemically induced; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000139:chemically induced; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000139:chemically induced; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014896:Welding; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012906:Smoke; D015034:Zinc Oxide