NASAL OR ORAL OIL APPLICATION ON INFANTS - A POSSIBLE RISK FACTOR FORADULT BRONCHIECTASIS

Lipid pneumonia has been observed in infants exposed by inhalation of oil or butter applied into the nose or throat as part of an old custom . We performed a case-control study to test the hypothesis, that this ancient tradition may be a predisposing factor to bronchiectasis. A ca se group of 59 patients with bronchiectasis and three control groups - 46 patients with COPD, 32 asthmatics, and 71 healthy Saudis - were qu estioned about possible risk factors of bronchiectasis including nasal or oral application of oil/butter at infancy. The risk of witnessed e xposure to this old folk remedy was significantly higher among the cas es than the controls (OR = 3.9 (1.7-8.8), (95% confidence interval) p < 0.001). Application of oil or butter into the nasal or oral cavity o f infants may be a risk factor for bronchiectasis.