Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia After Resumption of Cigarette Smoking

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia is a rare entity characterized by rapidly progressive infiltration of eosinophils into the lungs and is often associated with drug exposure or infection. We report a case of a previously healthy 19-year-old woman who presented with acute progressive dyspnea. Chest radiograph revealed diffuse bilateral infiltrates. Based on the results of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and her clinical course, she was diagnosed as having acute eosinophilic pneumonia. We suspect that the disease was related to smoking because she had started smoking 3 weeks before the onset of symptoms. Given the high prevalence of smoking and initiation of smoking in the military population, it is important for physicians taking care of this population to be aware of this disorder.