Basically, the acute phase was characterized by an insterstitial-alveolar pattern in the chest X-ray. Some days later higher figures of eosinophilia were seen. Other general symptoms were present in most of the patients.

During this phase a lot patients died due to respiratory insufficiency secondary to non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema

Kilbourne EM, Rigau Perez JG, Heath CWJ, et al. Clinical epidemiology of toxic-oil syndrome. Manifestations of a New Illness. N Engl J Med 1983;309(23):1408-14.