Frontiers in Public Health (Feb 2022)

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Caused by Occupational Exposure to Waterproofing Spray: A Case Report and Literature Review

  • Meng Fu,
  • Meng Fu,
  • Chun-Mei Feng,
  • Le-Jie Cao,
  • Xiao-Wen Hu,
  • Qi-xia Xu,
  • Huai-Ling Xia,
  • Zi-Mei Ji,
  • Na-Na Hu,
  • Wang Xie,
  • Yuan Fang,
  • Da-Qing Xia,
  • Jun-Qiang Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.830429
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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BackgroundAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious respiratory disease, caused by severe infection, trauma, shock, inhalation of harmful gases and poisons and presented with acute-onset and high mortality. Timely and accurate identification will be helpful to the treatment and prognosis of ARDS cases. Herein, we report a case of ARDS caused by occupational exposure to waterproofing spray. To our knowledge, inhalation of waterproofing spray is an uncommon cause of ARDS, and what makes our case special is that we ruled out concurrent infections with some pathogens by using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) as an auxiliary diagnosis, which presents the most comprehensive etiological examination of similar reports.Case PresentationA previously healthy 25 years old delivery man developed hyperpyrexia, chest tightness, cough and expectoration. The symptoms occurred and gradually exacerbated after exposure to a waterproofing spray. The chest computed tomography (CT) finding showed diffuse ground glass and infiltrative shadows in both lungs. The diagnosis of ARDS related to waterproofing spray was established on the basis of comprehensive differential diagnosis and etiological examination. The patient achieved good curative effect after proper systemic glucocorticoid therapy.ConclusionsThe diagnosis and differential diagnosis of acute respiratory failure for outdoor workers, such as delivery drivers or hikers, should be considered whether toxic aerosol exposure exists from daily contacts. The case can educate the public that more attention should be paid to avoid exposure to these chemicals by aerosols/ingestion mode and some preventive strategies should be taken in occupational environment. The treatment effect of glucocorticoids is significant in ARDS patients with general chemical damage caused by inhaling toxic gases and substances.

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