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Occupational Medicine 2005 55(8):638-641; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqi141
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

CASE REPORT

Metal fume fever presenting as aseptic meningitis with pericarditis, pleuritis and pneumonitis

Hesham A. Hassaballa, Omar B. Lateef, Julian Bell, Eileen Kim and Larry Casey

Section of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 West Harrison Street, Suite 054, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Background Metal fume fever (MFF) is a well-known complication of zinc oxide fume inhalation. Prompt recognition of this condition is essential for the proper medical management of this self-limited disease.

Aim To present a unique and unusual case of MFF.

Results Our patient is a 25-year-old male welder who had MFF and presented with aseptic meningitis with pericarditis, pleuritis and pneumonitis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of MMF presenting with these signs and symptoms.

Conclusions MFF can present with a systemic inflammatory response causing a multi-organ serositis. Our case highlights the utmost importance of obtaining an occupational history on all our patients, even if they are critically ill.

Keywords      Meningitis; metal fume fever; occupational lung disease; pericarditis; toxic inhalation

Correspondence to: Hesham A. Hassaballa, Midwest Pulmonary Associates, 2340 S. Highland Avenue, Suite 230, Lombard, IL 60148, USA. Tel: +1 630 932 2040; fax: +1 630 932 1513; e-mail: hhassaba{at}rush.edu


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