Inhaled heroin-induced status asthmaticus: five cases and a review of the literature.
We report five cases of status asthmaticus (four requiring mechanical ventilation) that were triggered by inhaled heroin and review the pertinent literature. These cases share common features of sudden and severe asthma exacerbations temporally related to heroin use, stress the importance of considering illicit drug use in like cases, and call attention to a public health issue.
Cygan
J
J
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA.
Trunsky
M
M
Corbridge
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000506:poisoning*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy
D009294:Narcotics; D003932:Heroin