Irritant vocal cord dysfunction at first misdiagnosed as reactive airway dysfunction syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
This report describes a case of vocal cord dysfunction at first misdiagnosed as reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS).


METHODS
A woman developed recurrent episodes of cough, dyspnea, and wheezing unresponsive to asthma therapy after irritant exposure to glutaraldehyde. Direct laryngoscopy was performed immediately after the induction of symptoms.


RESULTS
Laryngoscopy showed a paradoxical adduction of the vocal cord on inspiration. Vocal cord dysfunction was diagnosed.


CONCLUSIONS
A case of vocal cord dysfunction occurred after exposure to glutaraldhyde in a person with a history highly suggestive of RADS. Vocal cord dysfunction should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute respiratory symptoms after exposure to irritants and with asthma-like symptoms that fail to respond to conventional asthma therapy.
Servizio Autonomo di Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica (Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit), Fondazione "S Maugeri", Clinica del Lavoro e della Riabilitazione, IRCCS, Istituto Scientifico di Pavia, Italy.
Eugenia
E
Galdi
Luca
L
Perfetti
Fabio
F
Pagella
Giulia
G
Bertino
Massimo
M
Ferrari
Gianna
G
Moscato
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005976:Glutaral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012008:Recurrence; D013577:Syndrome; D014827:Vocal Cords
D004202:Disinfectants; D007509:Irritants; D005976:Glutaral