Chronic cough and weight loss in an adolescent marijuana smoker

Angela Onorato, Jana Shapiro, Lindsay Griffin, Monica Aldulescu, Nicoleta C. Arva, Avani Shah*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. As marijuana becomes legalized in more states and its use increases among adolescents, pediatricians must be aware of the impact of marijuana on pediatric health. Marijuana smoking as well as cigarette smoking has been associated with numerous lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and bullous lung diseases. This case report postulates that regular marijuana smoking may be associated with pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a severe lung disease that lacks definitive treatment and can cause respiratory failure. Given the potential risk of life-threatening lung diseases, pediatricians must screen adolescents with respiratory symptoms for marijuana use. In addition, this case underscores the need for further research and improved understanding of the relationship between marijuana smoking and lung disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalSAGE Open Medical Case Reports
Volume10
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2022

Funding

We acknowledge Dr Theresa Laguna and Dr Pauline Chou for their support in writing this case report. The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Keywords

  • Marijuana use
  • oncology
  • pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis
  • respiratory medicine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Chronic cough and weight loss in an adolescent marijuana smoker'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this