Tuberc Respir Dis.  2007 Apr;62(4):314-317. 10.4046/trd.2007.62.4.314.

A Case of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Caused By Zinc Fume Inhalation

• Choi SB
• Seo JS
• Han YC
• Kim AR
• Hur JW
• Lee SS
• Lee YM
• Lee HP
• Kim JI
• Yum HK
• Choi SJ
• Choi SJ
• Lee HK

• KMID: 1970232
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2007.62.4.314

Abstract

The Inhalation of certain freshly formed metal oxides can cause metal fume fever, which is an acute, self-limiting, flu-like illness. The most common cause of this syndrome is the inhalation of zinc oxide. The inhalation of zinc oxide can lead to tracheobronchiolitis, chemical pulmonary edema or to respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). We encountered a 43-years-old man who developed severe dyspnea after inhaling of zinc oxide while working for 5 hours in a closed space. He was diagnosed with ARDS and was treated successfully with glucocorticoid. We report a case of ARDS caused by the inhalation of zinc fumes.

Keyword

Zinc fume inhalation; Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Glucocorticoid; N-acetylcysteine

MeSH Terms

Acetylcysteine
Dyspnea
Fever
Inhalation*
Oxides
Pulmonary Edema
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult*
Respiratory Insufficiency
Zinc Oxide
Zinc*
Acetylcysteine
Oxides
Zinc
Zinc Oxide

Figure

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  Figure 1 (A) On admission, chest radiography shows diffuse consolidations and ground glass opacities in the both lung fields. (B) High resolution computed tomography of the chest shows consolidations, ground glass opacities and ill defined centrilobular nodules in the both lung.

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  Figure 2 On hospital day 2, the chest radiography reveals improvement of the consolidations in the both lung fields.

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  Figure 3 On discharge, the chest radiography shows nearly improved consolidations in the both lung. There are fibrotic changes in the right upper lung field and bullous emphysema in the left middle lung field.

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  Figure 4 (A) On the chest radiography after 4 months, the consolidations and ground glass opacities had been disappeared. (B) High resolution computed tomography scan of the chest, after 4 months, shows complete resolution of the consolidations and ground glass opacities. Mild paraseptal emphysemas in the superior segments of the both lower lobes are revealed.

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