There was no cough or wheezing. Three days before, he had aspirated diesel while siphoning it from the fuel tank and had cough lasting for less than a minute. Later developed nausea, vomitting and fever which subsided with symptomatic treatment at local place. On physical examination, patient was dyspnoeic but there was no cyanosis Selleckchem Olaparib or peripheral oedema. His pulse rate was 116 beats/min, respiratory rate was 30 breaths/min, blood pressure was 96/60 mmHg and room air oxygen saturation was 86%. Chest examination revealed scattered inspiratory crackles over left hemithorax.
Other systems were clinically normal. Patient was admitted with a provisional diagnosis of diesel induced pneumonitis. The arterial blood gas analysis at room air revealed a PH of 7.42; PaO2 of 60 mmHg; PaCO2 of 33 mmHg and HCO3 of 21.4 meq/L. Blood examination revealed haemoglobin of 13.4 g/dl, total leucocyte count of 11,400/cu mm with a differential of 64% polymorphonuclear leucocytes and 22% lymphocytes. His blood chemistry was normal. The posteroanterior chest radiograph done on the day of diesel aspiration revealed bilateral patchy opacities (Fig. 1) and repeat chest radiograph one week later in our hospital
showed partial clearance of lung opacities (Fig. 2). Cardiac evaluation was negative. High resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) scan of chest showed bilateral patchy areas of consolidation (Fig. 3A and B). Patient declined to undergo selleck kinase inhibitor flexible bronchoscopy and sputum was induced through nebulized hypertonic saline inhalation. The smears and bacterial cultures of induced sputum were negative. Cytological examination of induced sputum revealed foamy macrophages establishing
the diagnosis of hydrocarbon pneumonitis (Fig. 4A and B). At admission, patient required supplemental oxygen for few hours and analgesics for one day. A five day course of amoxicillin-clavalunic acid and methyl prednisolone was also given. Patient recovered quickly and was discharged after five days. After aspiration, hydrocarbons does not get absorbed in the airways and reach alveoli rapidly without evoking cough. In alveoli, they induce bronchial oedema, tissue damage and surfactant destruction.5 These pathologic changes result from inflammatory reaction due to activation of macrophages Astemizole and release of inflammatory cytokines.6 All signs of activation of macrophages may be seen through electron microscopy.7 The host reaction to the inhaled lipid substances differ according to their chemical characteristics and manifest with mild to severe illness; sometimes leading to death.8 The symptoms of acute hydrocarbon pneumonitis are non-specific. The typical clinical manifestations of acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia include breathlessness, cough and low grade fever which usually resolve with supportive treatment.9 In our case, chest pain, breathlessness were predominant respiratory symptoms.