title: Thermal epiglottitis in adults: a new complication of illicit drug use.
abstract: Four cases of acute epiglottitis due to thermal injury were identified in a larger study of 407 cases of epiglottitis in Rhode Island from 1975 through 1992. All occurred in young adults (aged 22-33 yr) and were caused by the inhalation of heated objects when smoking illicit drugs (a tip of a marijuana cigarette in 1 case and metal pieces from crack cocaine pipes in 3 cases). Symptoms, signs, and X-ray and laryngoscopic findings were similar to infectious epiglottitis. All recovered with observation and intravenous antibiotics; none required intubation. Emergency physicians should be aware of this etiology when managing young adults who present with acute epiglottitis.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Administration Medical Center, Manchester, New Hampshire 03104, USA.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mayo-Smith
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spinale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002059:Burns, Inhalation / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D006801:Humans; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine