title: Drugs and the otolaryngologist.
abstract: Numerous clinical problems arise as a result of our use of pharmaceuticals. They include untoward pharmacologic effects, socio-economic problems (excessive cost, abuse), improper administration and various medicolegal difficulties. Two areas of direct concern to the otolaryngologist are drug interactions and drug-induced diseases, problems which precipitate and prolong hospitalization and which introduce a new clinical entity, "diseases of medical progress." Otolaryngologic examples of these diseases are abundant; some are considered here in a brief explication of an area of growing concern.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D004347:Drug Interactions; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders