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Crack lung
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Due to hemorrhagic alveolitis from inhalational cocaine use [1]
Clinical Features
- Most common symptoms are cough and shortness of breath
- Others include:
- acute lung injury
- hypoxia
- chest pain
- hemoptysis
- fever
- focal infiltrates
- bronchospasm
Differential Diagnosis
Evaluation
- CXR
- May have eosinophilia, which suggests an immune mediated component[2]
Management
- Supportive care, maintain oxygenation and ventilation
Disposition
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Forrester JM. Crack lung: an acute pulmonary syndrome with a spectrum of clinical and histopathologic findings. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990;142(2):462-7.
- ↑ Kissner DG.Crack lung: pulmonary disease caused by cocaine abuse. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987;136(5):1250-2.
