Acute respiratory failure secondary to eosinophilic pneumonia following influenza vaccination in an elderly man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Main Authors: Prapaporn Pornsuriyasak, Thitiporn Suwatanapongched, Jettanong Klaewsongkram, Supranee Buranapraditkun, Porpon Rotjanapan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2014-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Influenza vaccination; Acute respiratory failure; Diffuse lung disease; Eosinophilic pneumonia
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S120197121401515X
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511

Acute respiratory failure with diffuse pulmonary opacities is an unusual manifestation following influenza vaccination. We report herein a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who developed fever with worsening of respiratory symptoms and severe hypoxemia requiring ventilatory support shortly after influenza vaccination. Bronchoalveolar lavage was compatible with acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Rapid clinical improvement was observed 2 weeks after systemic corticosteroid treatment, followed by radiographic improvement at 4 weeks. No disease recurrence was observed at the 6-month follow-up.