Acute accidental exposure to chlorine fumes--a study of 82 cases

Eighty-two patients were hospitalized following an accidental exposure to chlorine. All patients presented with dyspnoea and cough. The other symptoms included irritation of throat (53.6%), irritation of eyes (42.3%), headache (29.2%), abdominal pain (26.8%), vomiting (24.3%) and giddiness (9.7%). All of them had bronchospasm and 5 (6%) had cyanosis at the onset. An x-ray of the chest revealed patchy infiltrates in 3 (3.85%) and hilar congestion in 2 (2.44%). Pulmonary function tests showed an obstructive pattern in 27.4%, restrictive in 3.25% and mixed in 53.2%. Pulmonary functions were normal in 16.1% of the patients. Bronchoscopy revealed tracheobronchial mucosal congestion in all cases, hemorrhagic spots in 35.7%, erosions and ulcers in 12.5%. All patients were treated with oxygen, aminophylline, hydrocortisone and antibiotics. Haematemesis (n = 1) and pulmonary oedema (n = 2) developed 12 hours after the admission. Two other patients developed pneumonia 48 hours later. All patients recovered satisfactorily. On follow-up 16 patients had no sequelae after one year. Pulmonary functions were normal in 5 patients after 3 years of follow-up.