Inhalation Lung Injury Associated with Humidifier Disinfectants in Adults
Journal of Korean Medical Science
;
: 1857-1862, 2016.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-173629
ABSTRACT
We recently established a novel disease entity presented as progressive respiratory failure associated with the inhalation of humidifier disinfectants. In April 2011, we encountered a series of peripartum patients with complaints of respiratory distress of unknown etiology, which was an uncommon phenomenon. Accordingly, we created a multidisciplinary team comprising intensivists, radiologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Further, we defined the disease entity and performed a case-control study, epidemiologic investigation, and animal study to determine the etiology. The study findings indicated that the lung injury outbreak was related to the inhalation of humidifier disinfectants and showed that household chemical inhalation can cause severe respiratory failure. Following the withdrawal of humidifier disinfectants from the Korean market in 2012, no such cases were reported. This tragic event is a warning that appropriate safety regulations and monitoring for potential toxic household chemicals are critical to protect public health.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Respiratory Insufficiency
/
Social Control, Formal
/
Case-Control Studies
/
Inhalation
/
Family Characteristics
/
Public Health
/
Disinfectants
/
Lung Injury
/
Peripartum Period
/
Humidifiers
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Journal of Korean Medical Science
Year:
2016
Type:
Article
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