Complications of intranasal prescription narcotic abuse.
The abuse of drugs via an intranasal route is an increasingly prevalent pattern of behavior. In the past year, a number of patients received care at our institution for complications resulting from the previously unreported phenomenon of intranasal prescription narcotic abuse. This report describes the clinical manifestations of this form of drug abuse in 5 patients. Their symptoms consisted of nasal and/or facial pain, nasal obstruction, and chronic foul-smelling drainage. Common physical findings were nasal septal perforation; erosion of the lateral nasal walls, nasopharynx, and soft palate; and mucopurulent exudate on affected nasal surfaces. In addition, 2 of the 5 patients had invasive fungal rhinosinusitis, which appears to be a complication unique to intranasal narcotic abuse.
Yewell
Jason
J
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, USA.
Haydon
Richard
R
Archer
Sanford
S
Manaligod
Jose M
JM
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006853:Hydrocodone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000473:pathology; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology
D006853:Hydrocodone; D003042:Cocaine