Crack lung

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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

  1. 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.
  2. Kissner DG.Crack lung: pulmonary disease caused by cocaine abuse. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987;136(5):1250-2.

Authors

Lisa Yee