Acute respiratory distress syndrome following nitrogen dioxide exposure.

A young laborer was accidentally exposed to toxic nitrogen dioxide fumes following an accidental explosion at work place. He developed acute respiratory distress within few hours of exposure and manifested with severe hypoxemia and permeability edema. Assistance with mechanical ventilation and corticosteroid therapy could be instituted only after 24 hours of exposure. He had shown remarkable recovery and could be weaned off after seven days. At three weeks after discharge, his lung function tests were normal.