Acute Pulmonary Edema in a Storehouse of Moldy Oranges: A Severe Case of the Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome

Abstract

A woman who was 41 y of age developed pulmonary edema after massive fungal inhalation at an orange storehouse. A provocation test by exposure in the workplace was positive. Neither immunological studies with fungi isolated nor other clinical and histological examinations showed any evidence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This is the first report of a subject with organic dust toxic syndrome who developed pulmonary edema associated with the handling of moldy oranges.