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Published on: November 4, 2010
Irritant vocal cord dysfunction at first misdiagnosed as reactive airway dysfunction syndrome
Eugenia Galdi1, Luca Perfetti, Fabio Pagella
1Servizio Autonomo di Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica (Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit), Fondazione "S Maugeri", Clinica del Lavoro e della Riabilitazione, IRCCS, Istituto Scientifico di Pavia, Italy.
Objectives:
This report describes a case of vocal cord dysfunction at first misdiagnosed as reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS).
Methods:
A woman developed recurrent episodes of cough, dyspnea, and wheezing unresponsive to asthma therapy after irritant exposure to glutaraldehyde. Direct laryngoscopy was performed immediately after the induction of symptoms.
Results:
Laryngoscopy showed a paradoxical adduction of the vocal cord on inspiration. Vocal cord dysfunction was diagnosed.
Conclusions:
A case of vocal cord dysfunction occurred after exposure to glutaraldhyde in a person with a history highly suggestive of RADS. Vocal cord dysfunction should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute respiratory symptoms after exposure to irritants and with asthma-like symptoms that fail to respond to conventional asthma therapy.
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