Medicine-induced pulmonary toxicity

A large number of medicines are known to cause medicine-induced pulmonary toxicity; however, recognition can be difficult because the clinical, radiological and histological findings are often non-specific. Currently, there are no diagnostic studies available to confirm the presence of a medicineinduced respiratory reaction. Health care professionals can only make an accurate diagnosis if they are aware of the medications that have been recognised as causing respiratory toxicity and their specific presentations. One website which contains a list of medications known to cause pulmonary toxicity is called PNEUMOTOX and can be found online at: www.pneumotox. com. This article will begin with a general overview of medicine-induced pulmonary toxicity and then focus on a case of nitrofurantoin-induced pulmonary toxicity.