RESPIRATORY COMPLICATION OF ADDICTION AMONG PATIENTS AT TANTA CHEST HOSPITAL

Abstract

This work aimed to study respiratory complications of addiction among patients of Tanta chest Chest Hospital during six months. 66 patients were collected from whom full history was taken and full examination was done along with routine Labs, ABG, CXR, chest CT, PFT , Echocardiography and bronchoscope. The most commonly abused drugs that affect the respiratory system are cannabis then opioids (eg.tramadol and opium) then heroin. Poly substances abuse was the most common type of addiction among cases (68.2%),then cnnabinoid 21.2%, then opioid 10.6%, then stimulant 6.06% Pulmonary tuberculosis was common with inhaled drugs (37.5%)of inhalation drug abusers had pulmonary tuberculosis parenchymal lung diseases were common with all route of administration especially orally administered drugs and parenchymal lung diseases were common with intravenously abused drugs in our study parenchymal lung diseases represent (84.8%) in comparison to pleural and airway. Smoking cannabis can have a negative impact on respiratory health. Smoking cannabis in the long term is likely to cause increased cough and sputum production, damage to the mucosa and affects immune regulation such that the smoker is predisposed to lower respiratory tract infections. The extent to which these effects on the respiratory system cause obstructive airways disease, result in emphysema or the development of lung cancer remains unclear without further research controlling for tobacco use and other confounding issues P Gates et al. Respirology (2014)