Aspiration of zinc tablet leading to chemical burn of the airway

Abstract

Rationale: Zinc supplementation has been considered a safe prophylactic measure against COVID-19 infection, but the risks have not been well established.Patient concerns: We describe a 73-year-old patient who presented with bronchoscopy 10 days after zinc tablet aspiration. Diagnoses: Circumferential Chemical Airway Burn leading to Airway StenosisInterventions: Bronchoscopy with bronchodilation Outcomes: After the initial bronchoscopy, the patient was administered a course of steroids, but on repeat bronchoscopy, significant airway stenosis was encountered, and balloon dilationwas performed.Lessons: Zinc tablet aspiration is a previously unreported risk of zinc prophylaxis and requires prompt bronchoscopic evaluation for foreign body removal.

Iron pill aspiration syndrome: A case report and literature review

“…Non-dissolving compounds like Ciprofloxacin, Sucralfate, and Calcium carbonate are reported to present with airway obstruction [ 9 , 10 ]. Iron pills (ferrous sulfate), Nortriptyline, and Zinc are well known to cause chemical burn along with a profound inflammatory response [ [11] , [12] , [13] ]. Literature on iron pills aspiration is merely limited to a few anecdotal case reports with limited clinician awareness.…”