Intranasal
hydrocodone-acetaminophen abuse induced necrosis of the nasal cavity and
pharynx
Jazzmine
Myers
Millions of Americans abuse prescription medications every
day. According to The US Department of
Health and Human Services, 5.2 million people abused pain prescription medication
in 2007. It was predicted that by 2010 the number of pain prescription abusers
will increase by 2 million. This is the first large analysis of patients with upper
aero-digestive tract pathology secondary to intranasal hydrocodone-acetaminophen
abuse (INHAA).
In this study, two private and one academic otolaryngology
practices in Kentucky, search their patient’s charts for people who suffer from
morbidity from intranasal hydrocodone-acetaminophen abuse. A total of 35 patients were identified. Initially
many patients denied using hydrocodone causing a delay in the diagnosis. Hydrocodone
abuse was confirmed by the findings of white powder covering an underlying
nasal mucosal necrosis. Follow ups was limited because only 26 percent of patients
returned for follow up care. 77 percent of patients had active necrosis or
prior tissue loss, 55 percent of patients had septal perforation and 26 percent
of patients had palatal perforation. Only two patients had invasive fungal sinusitis
that resulted in the death of one of them.
As the number of individuals who abuse
hydrocodone increase, it is important that an effective treatment of the
addiction and the sino-nasal disease is found.
References:
1. David Alexander BS1,.
"Intranasal Hydrocodone-acetaminophen Abuse Induced Necrosis of the Nasal
Cavity and Pharynx." Wiley Online Library. John Wiley & Son Inc, 10
Sept. 2012. Web. 23 June 2013.
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