Acute eosinophilic pneumonia following aromatherapy with essential oil

Tatsuya Kodama; Takanori Watanabe; Norikazu Mataki; Soichiro Kanoh; Yoshiko Kichikawa

doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2022.101657

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia following aromatherapy with essential oil

Respir Med Case Rep. 2022 May 2:37:101657. doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2022.101657. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Tatsuya Kodama¹, Takanori Watanabe², Norikazu Mataki³, Soichiro Kanoh¹, Yoshiko Kichikawa¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Mishuku Hospital, 5-35-12 Kamimeguro, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-0051, Japan.
² Department of Pathology, Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital, 1-2-24 Ikejiri, Setagaya, Tokyo, 154-8532, Japan.
³ Department of General Internal Medicine, Mishuku Hospital, 5-35-12 Kamimeguro, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-0051, Japan.

Abstract

Essential oils are liquid extracts of various plants with potential health benefits and are often used in aromatherapy. Contact allergy, including skin irritation, is a well-known side effects of these extracts. A Japanese woman visited our emergency department complaining of dyspnea, cough, and fever. Two weeks earlier, she had started aromatherapy using a humidifier and essential oil. Based on clinical and imaging findings, and the results of bronchoalveolar lavage, we diagnosed acute eosinophilic pneumonia due to inhalation of essential oil. Her symptoms resolved after steroid therapy. This case makes the clinicians aware the possibility of acute eosinophilic pneumonia induced by aromatherapy using essential oil.

Keywords: Acute eosinophilic pneumonia; Aromatherapy; Essential oil.

Publication types

Case Reports