What Is Lipoid Pneumonia?
Inflammation of the lungs is referred to as pneumonia. Lipoid pneumonia is a rare disorder in which fats or lipids accumulate in the lung. Lipoids are fat molecules, also called lipids. Lipid pneumonia is another name for lipoid pneumonia.
The two types of lipoid pneumonia include:
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Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia: This happens when fat particles enter the body from the outside and travel through the nose or mouth to the lungs. It is caused by inhaling fatty or oily substances like mineral oil or vegetable oil. Pneumonia is brought on by the oil particles that collect in the lungs. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia can be sudden, severe, acute, or chronic with ongoing exposure to oil substances.
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Endogenous Lipoid Pneumonia: In this type, the lungs swell up with fat particles, inflaming them. Fat and cholesterol are released as a response to damaged tissue. Sometimes, the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in the lungs can result in inflammation and pneumonia. Typically, it is a chronic condition. Cholesterol pneumonia, golden pneumonia, and idiopathic lipoid pneumonia are other names for endogenous lipoid pneumonia.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Lipoid Pneumonia?
Both types of lipoid pneumonia have different symptoms in different people. Many people have no symptoms at all. Others only have minor symptoms. Lipoid pneumonia symptoms typically get worse over time. They may occasionally become severe or even lethal. The following are some typical signs of lipoid pneumonia:
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Chest pain.
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Chronic cough.
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Difficulty breathing.
Less frequent signs may include:
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Fever.
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Night sweats.
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Coughing up blood.
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Difficulty swallowing.
What Causes Lipoid Pneumonia?
The causes of lipoid pneumonia depend upon the type.
Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia
Exogenous lipoid pneumonia develops after inhaling or aspirating a fatty substance. Aspiration is when something solid or liquid is swallowed down the wrong pipe. The material can end up in the lungs when it enters the windpipe rather than the esophagus.
The substance triggers an inflammatory response once it enters the lungs. The kind of oil and the exposure significantly impact the reaction's severity. The lungs can suffer long-term damage from severe inflammation. One of the most frequently inhaled or aspirated substances that result in exogenous lipoid pneumonia is mineral oil-based laxatives.
The following fatty substances can also result in exogenous lipoid pneumonia:
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Oils in foods like olive oil, milk, poppy seed oil, and egg yolks.
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Oils in some medications and nasal drops.
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Oil-based laxatives, such as paraffin oil and cod liver oil.
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Petroleum jelly.
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Performers who "eat" fire use kerdan, a type of oil.
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Oils such as WD-40, paints, and lubricants are used at home or work.
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Oil-based components in e-cigarettes.
Endogenous Lipoid Pneumonia
It is not entirely understood what causes endogenous lipoid pneumonia. However, endogenous lipoid pneumonia has associations with other medical conditions. These conditions are typically associated with excessive fat synthesis or metabolism and excess fat storage. This may result in unusual lung fat buildup, which harms tissues and inflames them.
The diseases that could cause endogenous lipoid pneumonia include;
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Farber's disease.
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Gaucher disease.
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Niemann-Pick disease.
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Gangliosidosis.
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Wolman's disorder.
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Krabbe disease.
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Metachromatic leukodystrophy.
It frequently happens when an airway is blocked, such as by a lung tumor. Blockages can lead to cell deterioration and inflammation, producing debris buildup. This debris may contain cholesterol, a hard-to-degrade fat. As cholesterol builds up, inflammation may be brought on. Additionally, long-term exposure to dust and other irritating substances, certain infections, and genetic issues with a fat breakdown can all contribute to the condition.
Lipoid pneumonia can also be brought on by persistent inflammation brought on by certain illnesses, such as;
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Immune system diseases.
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Joint and muscle diseases.
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Chronic lung infection.
How Is Lipoid Pneumonia Diagnosed?
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The doctor will assess through a physical examination and enquire about the symptoms. Lipoid pneumonia has many of the same symptoms as other lung diseases such as bacterial pneumonia, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. Lipoid pneumonia can therefore be challenging to identify.
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On a chest X-ray, the majority of pneumonia types are discernible. A chest X-ray, however, is insufficient to determine the type of pneumonia.
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If the patient can recall inhaling or aspirating anything oily before the symptoms started the doctor must be informed, as it helps in diagnosis and treatment planning. In addition, it is crucial to disclose routine behaviors, such as using petroleum jelly, baby oil, chest vapor rubs, or lip balm regularly.
Other tests may be requested by the doctor to verify the diagnosis, which includes:
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Bronchoscopies with bronchoalveolar lavage.
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CT (computed tomography) scans.
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Needle aspiration biopsies.
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Pulmonary function tests.
How Is Lipoid Pneumonia Treated?
The type of lipoid pneumonia, its underlying cause, and the severity of the symptoms all influence treatment planning. In the case of endogenous lipid pneumonia, treating the underlying medical condition may benefit. Other therapies might consist of:
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Enzyme replacement therapy (replacing the deficient enzyme).
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Steroid medication.
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Oxygen support.
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Whole lung lavage.
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Respiratory therapy.
The best course of action for exogenous lipoid pneumonia is to stop using the causative substance. Often, this is sufficient to reduce symptoms on its own. Unfortunately, there are not many other effective treatments.
Although lipoid pneumonia is uncommon, it can be prevented by not vaping and using oily products cautiously. In addition, exogenous lipoid pneumonia and lung damage can be avoided by wearing protective face masks while working around lubricants, paints, pesticides, and other airborne products.
Conclusion
Lipoid pneumonia is a rare disorder in which fats or lipids accumulate in the lung. There are two types of lipoid pneumonia based on the cause, exogenous and endogenous lipoid pneumonia. Lipoid pneumonia can be treated once it has been identified. Although there are few long-term studies on lipoid pneumonia, case studies indicate a good prognosis. Overall, lung health and the presence of chronic lung diseases have an impact on the outlook.
Eliminating inhaled or aspirated fat exposure can help with exogenous lipoid pneumonia symptoms. However, it is useful to know the dangers of consuming mineral oil and inhaling other greasy substances. A doctor must be consulted immediately if any signs of lipoid pneumonia are observed.
