Characteristics | |
Age yrs | 20 (19–21) |
Male | 137 (100) |
History of allergic disease | 16 (12) |
Rhinitis | 10 |
Dermatitis | 3 |
Bronchial asthma | 3 |
Smoking history | |
Current smoker | 135 (99) |
Started smoking within 1 month of developing AEP | 71 |
Resumed smoking within 1 month of developing AEP after cessation | 41 |
Increased number of cigarettes smoked per day within 1 month of developing AEP | 13 |
No change in smoking habits | 10 |
Former smoker | 1 (1) |
Never-smoked | 1 (1) |
Time from initiation of smoking to presentation days# | 17 (13–26) |
Symptoms | |
Cough | 130 (95) |
Dyspnoea | 127 (93) |
Fever | 120 (88) |
Chill | 76 (56) |
Headache | 40 (29) |
Myalgia | 31 (23) |
Chest pain | 22 (16) |
Inspiratory crackle on chest auscultation | 92 (67) |
Laboratory findings | |
White blood cell count cells·μL−1 | 12070 (9435–16835) |
Leukocytosis >10000 cells·μL−1 | 97 (71) |
Peripheral eosinophil count cells·μL−1 | 360 (220–583) |
Eosinophilia >500 cells·μL−1 | 44 (32) |
C-reactive protein mg·dL−1 | 16.6 (9.1–36.6) |
Pa,O2/FI,O2 ratio | 284.3 (232.7–334.1) |
Eosinophils on BAL % | 40 (35–53) |
Lymphocytes on BAL % | 19 (12–28) |
Neutrophil on BAL % | 5 (2–11) |
Admitted to ICU | 108 (79) |
Need for mechanical ventilation | 3 (2) |
Invasive | 2 |
Noninvasive | 1 |
Data are presented as n (%), median (interquartile range) or n. Pa,O2: arterial oxygen tension: FI,O2: inspiratory oxygen fraction; BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage; ICU: intensive care unit. #: time from initiation of smoking or increased number of cigarettes to presentation of symptoms in 125 patients who had changed their smoking habits.