Pneumotox » Drug » Cinnamon (dry, inhaled: the 'cinnamon challenge')

Cinnamon (dry, inhaled: the 'cinnamon challenge')

Dry cinnamon. A recent perilous trend of misuse popularized on Youtube. Respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation can follow the 'cinnamon challenge'

Last update : 16/10/2014

IV.a Bronchospasm - Wheezing - Asthma

IV.f Severe or catastrophic bronchospasm or asthma attack (can be fatal)

XI.g Aspiration, aspiration pneumonia (w/wo demonstrable pharyngeal dysmotility)

XV.q Path: Foreign body deposits/granulomatous reaction

XVI.e Imaging: Pulmonary opacities with a subpleural distribution

Diagnosing DIRD

Drug and radiation history

Drug singularity - Correct identification of the drug

Consistent timing of exposure v. onset of symptoms

Clinical, imaging, BAL, pathological pattern consistent with the specific drug

Careful exlusion of another cause

Remission of symptoms with removal of drug

Recurrence with rechallenge (rarely advisable)

Causality assessment

More detailed checklist

The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website