DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i05.001

Pages: 1514-1516

Drug induced interstitial lung disease is a common cause of acute and chronic lung disease which occurs mostly with cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic drugs. The clinical symptomatology is generally non specific and early diagnosis is important in the management of the patient. The mechanism of lung injury due to the drugs is by direct toxic action on lungs, hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune mechanisms. The direct toxic action on lung tissue results in diffuse alveolar damage, interstitial pneumonia and organizing pneumonia. The diagnosis of drug induced lung disease depends on proper clinical suspicion, history of drug exposure and relevant radiological findings and exclusion of other causes of lung injury. Chest radiography and HRCT are most important diagnostic methods available to identify the disease. We report a case of drug induced interstitial lung disease in a 13 year old boy. The child developed acute respiratory illness-following ingestion of PARAQUAT (contact herbicide). The chest radiography and HRCT have shown the features of interstitial pneumonia. The child recovered following appropriate treatment.