The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website and App

Frequency - Incidence

Incidence of respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as assessed by number of reported/published cases in the literature. Red digits in stars indicate: 0 = Very rare, questionable signal · 1 = < 10 cases · 2 = 10-50 cases · 3 = 50–100 cases · 4 = 100-200 cases · 5 = >200 cases

Evidence level/grade

Evidence level for respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as estimated using Hill’s (1965), Naranjo’s (1981), and Bégaud’s (1985) criteria applied to published cases. Blue digits in stars indicate: 0 = Questionable · 1 = Low · 2 = Moderate · 3 = Robust · 4 = Definite · 5 = Unquestionable, pathognomonic

I.j

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (subacute, acute)

Publications

Valido A, Boncompagni AC, Tsang M, Hume P

There's the Rub: a narrative review of the benefits and complications associated with Vicks VapoRub use.

PeerJ. 2025;13:e19105

Quan MA, Hoerger JL, Mullins EH, Kuhn BT

A 66-Year-Old Man With Subacute Cough and Worsening Dyspnea Previously Diagnosed With COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Journal of investigative medicine high impact case reports. 2022;10:23247096211055334

Kilaru H, Prasad S, Radha S, Nallagonda R, Kilaru SC, Nandury EC

Nasal application of petrolatum ointment - A silent cause of exogenous lipoid pneumonia: Successfully treated with prednisolone.

Respiratory medicine case reports. 2017;22:98-100

Cherrez Ojeda I, Calderon JC, Guevara J, Cabrera D, Calero E, Cherrez A

Exogenous lipid pneumonia related to long-term use of Vicks VapoRub® by an adult patient: a case report.

BMC ear, nose, and throat disorders. 2016;16:11

Gattuso P, Reddy VB, Castelli MJ

Exogenous lipoid pneumonitis due to Vicks Vaporub inhalation diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Cytopathology : official journal of the British Society for Clinical Cytology. 1991;2(6):315-6