usually occurs 1 to 48 hours after heavy cocaine smoking, and is a form of hypersensitivity reaction. Patients may present with dyspnoea, cough, haemoptysis, fever, tachypnoea, chest pain, wheeze and widespread itching
unknown whether it is fully reversible
clinical course can take two forms
acute and self-limiting resolving within 24 hours
progressive, with a high percentage of patients requiring mechanical ventilation. A short course of steroids may be of benefit.
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