Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia from Vicks VapoRub

Risk Factors

• The use of vaporizers or nebulizers with essential oils can increase the risk of exogenous lipoid pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1, 2
• Nebulizers with large volumes (over 500 cc) pose a higher risk to patients due to the large amount of aerosols generated, as reported by the CDC 3, 4

Prevention and Recommendations

• The CDC recommends considering the use of heat and moisture exchangers (HME) or hygroscopic condenser humidifiers to prevent condensate formation in respiratory circuits 1, 4