Pattern of chest diseases among addicts in Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals

Background Drug addiction results in serious pulmonary complications. Thoracic complications of drug addiction vary depending on the type and the route of administration of the drug that has been abused. Aim To study the pattern of chest diseases among addicts in Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals. Patients and methods A total of 200 addict patients were selected from Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals in the duration between June 2016 and June 2018. All patients with pulmonary complications referred to Abbasia Chest Hospital were included. Results A total of 200 addict patients were enrolled in this study. Of them, 100 addicts with drug overdose with no pulmonary complications were excluded, and the other 100 patients were included, comprising 99 males and only one female, with mean age of 39.91±10.75 years. Overall, 63% of drug addicts were cannabis addicts, 27.0% were opiate addicts, 8.0% were polysubstance abusers, and 2.0% were alcohol addicts. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common pulmonary complication of all drug addicts. There was a statistically significant correlation between the type of drug addiction and the pulmonary complications. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common among cannabis addicts as well as polysubstance abusers. Parenchymal lung diseases (pneumonia and lung abscess) were the most common among opiate and intravenous drug addicts. There was no significant difference between different types of drugs and outcomes of the patients. Mortality represented 3.0% of all drug addicts. Conclusion Many pulmonary complications are associated with drug addiction. Achievement of early diagnosis and treatment can be obtained by proper counseling and therapeutic programs.