Korean J Med.  2012 Oct;83(4):498-502.

A Case of Chemical Pneumonitis Induced by Glutaraldehyde Aspiration

• Jang SH
• Park MJ
• Cho AR
• Lee MY
• Cho SW
• Hwang WM
• Yun SR

Abstract

Glutaraldehyde is a five-carbon dialdehyde with highly reactive chemical properties. It has bactericidal, sporicidal, and fungicidal activities and is used as a disinfectant to combat foot-and-mouth disease in Korea. To our knowledge, there are no reports of chemical pneumonitis caused by glutaraldehyde aspiration. Chemical pneumonitis is defined as lung irritation caused by substances toxic to the lungs. We treated a 71-year-old patient who had a dyspnea and hoarseness that worsened 7 h after ingesting three mouthfuls of 10% glutaraldehyde. Upon arrival at the emergency room, he had severe laryngeal swelling. A chest radiograph showed diffuse haziness of both lower-lung fields. Despite all our efforts at treatment, he died from chemical pneumonitis and its secondary complications.

Keyword

Glutaraldehyde; Pneumonia; Acute kidney injury

MeSH Terms

Acute Kidney Injury
Aged
Animals
Dyspnea
Emergencies
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Glutaral
Hoarseness
Humans
Korea
Lung
Mouth
Pneumonia
Thorax
Glutaral