Pleural effusion: An uncommon manifestation of nitrofurantoin-induced pulmonary injury

Nitrofurantoin has been documented as a cause of acute, sub-acute, and chronic pulmonary injury. This is a case of an 82 year-old female who presented with multiple episodes of respiratory symptoms due to recurrent pleural effusions after beginning nitrofurantoin therapy for urinary tract infection prophylaxis. Due to the rarity of pleural effusion as an adverse reaction to nitrofurantoin, the diagnosis was overlooked at first. This led to the patient undergoing multiple invasive procedures and accruing unnecessary healthcare cost before the diagnosis was made. This case demonstrates the need for physicians to remain mindful of rare adverse reactions from medications and maintain a high index of clinical suspicion with any patient presenting with a respiratory complaint while taking nitrofurantoin.