title: Nearly fatal partial obstruction of the upper airway.
abstract: The dangers of taking antihistamines while reactive small-airway disease is present are theoretically valid. In this case, an episode of coughing in a 33-year-old woman mobilized a thickened plug of mucus from the peripheral to the central bronchial region, which created a nearly fatal, partial upper airway obstruction. The mucous plug was discovered during an emergency bronchoscopy and quickly removed by suction.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, HCA Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Salem, Virginia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garvin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D001980:Bronchi; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009093:Mucus; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs