The case study involved a 60-year-old cigar smoking male who was admitted to the hospital with chills, fever and a cough. After three days of treatment with ceftriaxone and azithromycin, the gentleman was discharged and went home feeling normal once again.
After a month’s time, the gentleman had the same symptoms once again. He presented a fever as well as hypoxemic – a condition where the body is oxygen deprived. A chest CT revealed he had bilateral upper lung zone crackles and bilateral upper lobe predominant ground glass opacities. With further questioning the patient revealed he was a heavy user of flavored e-cigarettes.
Diagnosis was inhalation injury as well as acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with the use of the e-cigarette. After his second visit the patient stopped use of the e-cigarettes and the symptoms did not return. After a three-month follow up, a chest CT revealed everything was back to normal.
Lead researcher, Dr. Graham Atkins, said, “The use of e-cigarettes in the United States is increasing rapidly and the flavorings used, many of which contain diacetyl, may be harmful. This case adds to the growing body of research indicating e-cigarettes pose a health risk.”
The findings will be shared during the CHEST 2015 conference in Montreal, Canada on October 27th.