Inhalant abuse
Background
- first described in the 1950s
- most common abusant in preteens 11-13yo
- most abused: gasoline, solvents like toluene, spray paints, lighter fluid, air fresheners, glue, and electronic cleaners (halogenated hydrocarbons)
- includes: "sniffing", "huffing", "bagging", and "dusting"
Clinical Features
- euphoria, hallucinations
- neuro: impaired motor activity, ataxia, depressed mentation, withdrawal potential
- cardiac: widened QRS, prolonged QT, syncope, arrhythmias
- may cause dermal burns
- "sudden sniffing death" - thought to be occur with sudden catechol surge on a "sensitized" myocardium
Differential Diagnosis
Workup
Management
- if teen founded down with sudden death with history of recent inhalant abuse, recommended to try a beta-blocker (propanolol, esmolol) given the myocardial sensitization in addition to CPR, etc