Case Report

Volume: 3 | Issue: 2 | Published: Mar 17, 2019 | Pages: 57 - 60 | DOI: 10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917

Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report


Authors: Mahroo Khalid , Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan , Maryam Kaizar Master


Article Info

Authors

Mahroo Khalid

Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan

Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Maryam Kaizar Master

Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Publication History

Received: October 28, 2018

Revised: January 08, 2019

Accepted: February 20, 2019

Published: March 17, 2019


Abstract


Background: Lycopodium powder consists of dried spores of club moss plants, principally Lycopodium Clavatum which is flammable when in contact with air due to its high oil content. Case presentation: A 15-year-old, previously healthy, female student presented to the Emergency Department with a 1-hour history of shortness of breath following accidental inhalation of Lycopodium in school. The dyspnoea was rapidly progressive and associated with multiple episodes of non-productive cough, chest tightness and nausea. A portable chest x-ray showed opacified bronchi in the right lower lung with para hilar peribronchial prominence virtually indistinguishable from those seen in lower respiratory tract infection. She began desaturating on 15L of oxygen and was unable to tolerate NIPPV (non-invasive positive pressure ventilation) hence shifted to the ICU where a 3L nasal cannula was started, which was well tolerated. IV Methylprednisolone was started at 40 mg q6h and was tapered to q8h the next day. The patient clinically improved and was stable by day 6. Conclusions: An extremely rare case of Lycopodium inhalation by a school student led us to realize not only the importance of a thorough history in cases where presentations can overlap but also safety recognition during school laboratory training sessions.

Keywords: Lycopodium, pneumonitis, NIPPV (non-invasive positive pressure ventilation), case report, green


Pubmed Style

Mahroo Khalid, Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan, Maryam Kaizar Master. Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report. EJMCR. 2019; 17 (March 2019): 57-60. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917

Web Style

Mahroo Khalid, Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan, Maryam Kaizar Master. Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report. https://ejmcr.com/articles/1485 [Access: November 23, 2024]. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Mahroo Khalid, Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan, Maryam Kaizar Master. Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report. EJMCR. 2019; 17 (March 2019): 57-60. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Mahroo Khalid, Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan, Maryam Kaizar Master. Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report. EJMCR. (2019), [cited November 23, 2024]; 17 (March 2019): 57-60. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917

Harvard Style

Mahroo Khalid, Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan, Maryam Kaizar Master (2019) Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report. EJMCR, 17 (March 2019): 57-60. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917

Chicago Style

Mahroo Khalid, Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan, Maryam Kaizar Master. "Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report." 17 (2019), 57-60. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Mahroo Khalid, Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan, Maryam Kaizar Master. "Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report." 17.March 2019 (2019), 57-60. Print. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Mahroo Khalid, Avantika Lakshmi Narasimhan, Maryam Kaizar Master (2019) Chemical pneumonitis due to inhalation of lycopodium: a case report. , 17 (March 2019), 57-60. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/173-1539363917