[Extra hospital use of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes].

Extra hospital use of nitrous oxide. FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSESThe problematic recreational consumption of nitrous oxide is increasing in the adolescent population and its harms are little publicized and / or trivialized. This therefore represents a public health issue. In high doses, nitrous oxide becomes a dissociative anesthetic. It can lead to hypoxia and even asphyxia causing loss of consciousness. A chronic consumption is addictive and is characterized by megaloblastic anemia, dysfunction of the reproductive system and sensitivomotor myeloponeuropathy. After review of the previously cases, we note that the symptomatology is variable in intensity, presents a centripetal sensory impairment with dysesthesia and a deficit in the vibratory sense. Nitrous oxide alters vitamin B12 and increases the blood levels of homocysteine and methylmalonyl CoA. The magnetic resonance of the spinal cord shows abnormalities in the majority of cases. The treatment consisted of high doses of vitamin B12 for most of the cases described. In view of the good prognosis and the uncomplicated treatment, it is essential to quickly detect the impact of nitrous oxide on health.