J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2011 Apr;22(2):171-177.

New Onset Cigarette Smoking-Induced Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

• Kang TK

Abstract

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia is characterized by an acute fever, respiratory distress, bilateral pulmonary infiltrate on chest radiograph, an increase of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage and good response to corticosteroid therapy. The cause of this disease is not well-known, although cigarette smoking may be an associated factor. We present the case of a 19-year-old woman suspected to have cigarette smoking-induced acute eosinophilic pneumonia. The patient had commenced smoking 14 days prior to this event. At first, the patient was diagnosed with infectious pneumonia that was not responsive to antibiotics. Based on broncho-alveolar lavage findings, acute eosinophilic pneumonia was diagnosed. Symptoms improved after corticosteroid therapy. Emergency physicians should be aware of the possibility of acute eosinophilic pneumonia in young patients with new onset smoking history.

Keyword

Pulmonary eosinophilia; Smoking; Bronchoalveolar larvage

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Emergencies
Eosinophils
Female
Fever
Humans
Pneumonia
Pulmonary Eosinophilia
Smoke
Smoking
Therapeutic Irrigation
Thorax
Tobacco Products
Young Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Smoke