title: A rare case of ethambutol induced pulmonary eosinophilia.
abstract: Antitubercular drug (ATD) induced eosinophilic lung disease is a rare phenomenon. It usually occurs due to isoniazid and para amino salicylic acid. A 34-year-male of sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis, on antitubercular drugs (rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide) for last 3 weeks, presented with generalized arthralgia and maculopapular rash for last 2 weeks and shortness of breath for last 1 week. Chest X-ray and High resolution computerized tomographic scan thorax showed bilateral peripheral airspace opacification. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed 51% eosinophils of total cellularity (1200/cmm) confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary eosinophilia. ATD was stopped for 2 weeks and then reintroduced one by one. Patient again developed similar kind of symptoms with reintroduction of ethambutol. According to criteria for drug induced pulmonary eosinophilia, he was diagnosed as a case of ethambutol induced pulmonary eosinophilia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Ankan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.forename: Amitabha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Debraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jash
keywords: Antitubercular drug; ethambutol; pulmonary eosinophilia