Chemical Pneumonitis from a Swimming Pool Disinfectant Exposure in a 13-Year-Old Male: A Case Report

While chlorine and other pool chemicals can be used for the purpose of disinfection and pool maintenance, they also serve as a potential respiratory hazard. We report the case of a 13-year-old boy who presented to the emergency department after experiencing immediate dyspnea, drooling, coughing, nausea, and vomiting following an exposure to newly added pool chemicals. The patient's medical history included intermittent asthma with a recent history of an acute exacerbation two weeks before the inhaled chemical exposure. The treatment course following pool chemical exposure consisted of corticosteroids, bronchodilator therapy, and supportive care. At 1-week follow-up, the patient had no ongoing pulmonary symptoms but developed sinus discomfort and inflammation treated with a sinus rinse and azithromycin. Here, we describe the pathophysiology, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and long-term consequences of a case of acute chemical pneumonitis caused by exposure to inhaled chemicals. This case emphasizes the importance of pool chemical safety, and the respiratory effects acute chlorine inhalation can have both in the short and long term.