Pneumatoceles as a complication of paraffin pneumonia.

Paraffin pneumonia is a common form of poisoning, but pneumatoceles are an uncommon complication. This is a report of 6 patients who developed pneumatoceles after the ingestion of paraffin. These children's ages varied from under 18 months to 4 years; they were clinically more ill and were hospitalised longer than those who did not develop pneumatoceles. The pneumatoceles were discovered at the earliest on day 6 and, although extensive and in 2 cases bilateral, caused no clinical impairment of respiratory function. The pneumatoceles appear to resolve spontaneously but this may take more than 200 days.