[Otorhinolaryngological effects of cocaine and/or crack abuse in drug addicts].
OBJECTIVE
To assess if there are typical otorhinolaryngological findings in patients addicted to cocaine and/or crack.


METHODS
Eighteen patients who were addicted to cocaine and/or crack, were studied. Their clinical history was obtained and were submitted to an otorhinolaryngological examination.


RESULTS
It was impossible to find out a correlation between the time the patient is addicted to the drug, the amount of drug the patient is used to inhale, the frequency or the last time he used it and the nose and throat symptoms, as well as those factors and the otorhinolaryngological examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Owing to the unspecificity on clinical findings during the otorhinolaryngological examination, it is necessary that the physician suspects the abuse of drugs when he is performing the clinical history; otherwise, he will not reach this important diagnosis.
Nassif Filho
A C
AC
Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba, PR.
Bettega
S G
SG
Lunedo
S
S
Maestri
J E
JE
Gortz
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
D016578:Crack Cocaine