Ota Hiroaki, Tobino Kazunori
Respiratory Medicine, Iizuka Hospital, Iizuka, JPN.
Respiratory Medicine, Iizuka Hospital, Fukuoka, JPN.
Cureus. 2024 Aug 5;16(8):e66229. doi: 10.7759/cureus.66229. eCollection 2024 Aug.
Mugwort steaming is a traditional health practice with reported biological benefits, but its potential adverse effects on lung health remain unexplored. We report a case of a 48-year-old Japanese female who developed recurrent respiratory symptoms and abnormal lung shadows following occupational exposure to mugwort steaming. Initial diagnosis suggested nonfibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. However, transbronchial lung cryobiopsy revealed findings consistent with acute lung injury (ALI). Multi-disciplinary discussion led to a final diagnosis of ALI caused by mugwort steaming. The patient's condition improved when mugwort steaming was discontinued. This case represents the first reported instance of ALI associated with mugwort steaming. It highlights the need for caution in traditional practices and emphasizes the importance of considering unconventional exposures in unexplained lung pathologies. Further research is warranted to establish the safety profile and potential risks of mugwort steaming.
艾灸熏蒸是一种具有一定生物学益处报道的传统保健方法,但其对肺部健康的潜在不良影响仍未得到探索。我们报告一例48岁日本女性病例,该患者在职业接触艾灸熏蒸后出现反复呼吸道症状及肺部异常阴影。初步诊断提示为非纤维化性过敏性肺炎。然而,经支气管肺冷冻活检显示的结果与急性肺损伤(ALI)一致。多学科讨论得出最终诊断为艾灸熏蒸所致的ALI。停止艾灸熏蒸后患者病情改善。该病例是首例报道的与艾灸熏蒸相关的ALI病例。它凸显了对传统做法需谨慎的必要性,并强调在不明原因肺部病变中考虑非传统暴露因素的重要性。有必要进一步研究以确定艾灸熏蒸的安全性及潜在风险。