title: Cough mixture abuse as a novel cause of folate deficiency: a prospective, community-based, controlled study.
abstract: Cough mixture abuse has been reported to cause severe folate deficiency and neurological defects. We carried out a prospective case-controlled survey to confirm this association and define the incidence and severity of the problem. A total of 57 cough mixture abusers and 47 other substance abusers (controls) were studied. When compared with controls, cough mixture abusers had a high incidence of low folate levels that could only be detected by screening.
authors.forename: Wing-yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Suk-Kwan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Ben K L
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Tak-Shing
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: Edmond S K
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003061:Codeine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003625:Data Collection; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000139:chemically induced; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D010976:Platelet Count; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D003061:Codeine