Acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia presenting as spontaneous air leak following accidental baby oil aspiration.
Vijai WilliamsGopalakrishnan EzhumalaiAjay ThakurArun BansalMuralidharan JayashreePublished in: Tropical doctor (2019)
Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) is an uncommon cause of respiratory distress. The practice of oil massage and oil instillation into the nostrils is common in the Indian subcontinent. Accidental aspiration of baby oil may lead to significant chemical pneumonitis. This presentation may vary from subtle to severe respiratory distress requiring intensive care management. Spontaneous air leaks are rare in acute ELP. We successfully managed a six-month-old girl presenting with mineral oil-induced ELP and air leaks. However, these children require long-term follow-up, as a small proportion may evolve into chronic lung disease.