Kerosene oil lung injury in adults in the Kashmir valley of Indian Subcontinent: Unusual modes of exposure

Background. Four adult patients presented with fever and chest symptoms following accidental aspiration of kerosene oil while siphoning (n = 3) and use as an analgesic mouthwash (n = 1).Results. The patients developed clinical pneumonia with effusion and one patient developed empyema. All the patients were managed with antibiotics and routine measures with uneventful recovery.Conclusion. Sucking by mouth for siphoning the potential lung irritant needs to be seriously deprecated.