[Mineral oil pneumonia caused by throat gargles containing lipoid paraffin. Diagnosed by biochemical examination of the sputum (author's transl)].

A 20-year-old man developed a pneumonia after using throat gargles containing lipoid paraffin over 5 years. The lung biopsy showed a lipoid pneumonia and the bodyplethysmographic examination a ventilation disorder indicating a starting lung fibrosis. By the means of gaschromatography the identity of the lipoid in the sputum and in the gargle sample was established and the diagnosis continued. The disease, its pathophysiology and iatrogenic etiology are discussed and the consequencies concerning the ENT-specialist are stressed.