Tuberc Respir Dis.  2014 Apr;76(4):188-191.

Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia Following Secondhand Cigarette Smoke Exposure

• Chung MK
• Lee SJ
• Kim MY
• Lee JH
• Chang JH
• Sim SS
• Ryu YJ

Abstract

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is a disease characterized by an acute febrile onset, eosinophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and a dramatic response to corticosteroids. Although many studies have reported a close relationship between direct cigarette smoking and AEP, few studies have identified an association between passive smoking and AEP. Here, we report a case of AEP in a 19-year-old female with cough, fever, and dyspnea after 4 weeks of intense exposure to secondhand smoke for 6 to 8 hours a day in an enclosed area.

Keyword

Pulmonary Eosinophilia; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Tobacco Products

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Cough
Dyspnea
Eosinophilia
Female
Fever
Humans
Pulmonary Eosinophilia*
Smoke*
Smoking
Tobacco Products*
Tobacco Smoke Pollution
Young Adult
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Smoke
Tobacco Smoke Pollution

Figure

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  Figure 1 Chest radiography and computerized tomography (CT) scan on admission and 2 months after treatment. (A) Chest radiographs on admission revealing bilateral interstitial infiltrates and ground glass opacity. (B) Low dose chest CT on admission revealing symmetrical patchy consolidation and ground glass opacity with thickening of the interlobular septa. (C) Chest radiography at 2 months after treatment showing normalized lung. (D) Chest CT at 2 months after treatment also showing normalized lung.

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  Figure 2 Bronchoalveolar lavage specimen representing an increase in eosinophils up to 50% (A, Giemsa staining, ×400; B, Wright staining, ×400). The percentage of macrophages had decreased to 20%, and neutrophils and lymphocytes was 10% and 20%, respectively.

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