Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is a form of lipoid pneumonia. Please refer to the main article for a broader discussion.
In terms of the onset of the presentation, it can be divided into two different forms:
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acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia
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uncommon and typically caused by an episode of aspiration of a large quantity of a petroleum-based product
typically occurs in children due to accidental poisoning
has also been reported to occur with agents such squalene/triterpene 8
can also occur in performers who use liquid hydrocarbons for flame blowing (i.e. fire-eaters): hence also called fire-eater's pneumonia or fire-eater's lung 4
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chronic exogenous lipoid pneumonia
usually results from repeated episodes of aspiration or inhalation of animal fat or mineral or vegetable oils over an extended period
typically occurs in older patients but also has been reported in children as well as in infants when mineral oil is used as a lubricant to facilitate feeding
also can occur in patients without a predisposing anatomic or functional abnormality in swallowing
aspiration of fats or oils has been reported in patients with a history of chronic use of mineral oil or petroleum-based lubricants and decongestants
History and etymology
It was initially described in 1925 by a Canadian pathologist GF Laughlen after autopsies on five different patients, three of whom were children 6,7.