Two Cases of Chemical Pneumonitis Caused by Hydrogen Sulfide.

Kim, Jung Ha; Lee, Kyung Joo; Jung, Jin Yong; Lee, Eun Joo; Jung, Ki Hwan; Kang, Eun Hae; Lee, Sung Yong; Lee, Sang Yeub; Kim, Je Hyeong; Shin, Chol; Shim, Jae Jeong; In, Kwang Ho; Kang, Kyung Ho; Yoo, Se Hwa

doi:2008.64.3.210

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 64(3); 2008 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2008;64(3):210-214.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2008.64.3.210 Published online March 1, 2008.

Two Cases of Chemical Pneumonitis Caused by Hydrogen Sulfide.

Jung Ha Kim, Kyung Joo Lee, Jin Yong Jung, Eun Joo Lee, Ki Hwan Jung, Eun Hae Kang, Sung Yong Lee, Sang Yeub Lee, Je Hyeong Kim, Chol Shin, Jae Jeong Shim, Kwang Ho In, Kyung Ho Kang, Se Hwa Yoo

¹Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea. chepraxis@korea.ac.kr
²Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
³Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Chemical pneumonitis is an occupational lung disease that's caused by the inhalation of chemical substances. Its severity depends on the characteristics of the substances, the exposure time and the susceptibility of the patients. Hydrogen sulfide is not only emitted naturally, but it also frequently found in industrial settings where it is either used as a reactant or it is a by-product of manufacturing or industrial processes. Inhalation of hydrogen sulfide causes various respiratory reactions from cough to acute respiratory failure, depending on the severity. Two pharmaceutical factory workers were admitted after being rescued from a waste water disposal site that contained hydrogen sulfide. In spite that they recovered their consciousness, they had excessive cough and mild dyspnea. The simple chest radiographs and high resolution computed tomography showed diffuse interstitial infiltrates, and hypoxemia was present. They were diagnosed as suffering from chemical pneumonitis caused by hydrogen sulfide. After conservative management that included oxygen therapy, their symptoms, hypoxemia and radiographic abnormalities were improved.

Key Words: Hydrogen sulfide, Chemical pneumonitis, Occupational lung disease