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MILK INHALATION PNEUMONIA THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FAT FILLED MACROPHAGES IN TRACHEAL SECRETIONS
Author(s) -
WILLIAMS H. E.,
FREEMAN M.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1973.tb02237.x
Subject(s) - medicine , inhalation , pneumonia , globules of fat , respiratory system , exudate , aspiration pneumonia , pathology , immunology , milk fat , food science , anatomy , biology , linseed oil
SYNOPSIS It has been demonstrated experimentally that if milk is introduced into the airways of rabbits, the fat is rapidly taken up by macrophages, and these cells can be easily identified in the inflammatory exudate in the airways. Eighteen of 23 infants with inhalation pneumonia had significant numbers of fat filled macrophages and free fat globules in their tracheal secretions. In 24 control infants with respiratory disorders, no fat filled macrophages or fat globules were seen. It is concluded that the presence of significant numbers of these cells and fat globules is valuable confirmatory evidence of aspiration of milk, but their absence does not exclude the diagnosis.