Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 1997 Jul-Aug;15(4):483-5.
doi: 10.1016/s0736-4679(97)00077-2.

Thermal epiglottitis in adults: a new complication of illicit drug use

M F Mayo-Smith  1 , J Spinale
Affiliations
Case Reports

Thermal epiglottitis in adults: a new complication of illicit drug use

M F Mayo-Smith et al. J Emerg Med. 1997 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Four cases of acute epiglottitis due to thermal injury were identified in a larger study of 407 cases of epiglottitis in Rhode Island from 1975 through 1992. All occurred in young adults (aged 22-33 yr) and were caused by the inhalation of heated objects when smoking illicit drugs (a tip of a marijuana cigarette in 1 case and metal pieces from crack cocaine pipes in 3 cases). Symptoms, signs, and X-ray and laryngoscopic findings were similar to infectious epiglottitis. All recovered with observation and intravenous antibiotics; none required intubation. Emergency physicians should be aware of this etiology when managing young adults who present with acute epiglottitis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types