CASE REPORT - Polymer fume fever-like syndrome due to hairspray inhalation

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Vet Hum Toxicol. 2004 Oct;46(5):266-7.

Polymer fume fever-like syndrome due to hairspray inhalation.

Delgado JH, Waksman JC.

Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver Health Medical Center,

Colorado 80202, USA.

Inhalation of fluoropolymer pyrolysis products causes a self-limited

illness termed polymer fume fever; symptoms include fever, chills,

myalgias and non-productive cough, and are easily mistaken for an

acute viral illness. We report a 29-y-old male who developed fever and

pneumonitis shortly after the inhalation of pyrolyzed hairspray. Chest

x-rays showed pictures consistent with pneumonitis. The patient was

treated solely with supplemental oxgen, and his symptoms resolved over

24 h. Inhalation of pyrolyzed hairspray may cause a syndrome

resembling polymer fume fever.

PMID: 15487651

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15487651

Not an MD