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What Are The Side Effects Of Inhale Bleach Fumes?

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Posted on Thu, 14 May 2015
Question: I own apartments and clean with bleach. Yesterday I poured bleach in the bathroom sink, toilet, tub and in the corners of the floor, as I sat on the edge of the tub to clean it I was overwhelmed by fumes and stood up and turned the ven fan on...proceeding this the smoke alarm was set off in the hallway. As the day wore on I started hving difficulty breathing, so much so I was terrified my lungs were filling with fluid. I put some eucalyptus and pepperment in some carrier oil to rub on my chest. Finally able to sleep. I was also coughing up blood tinged sputum. Today a bit better, still coughing and my back around my ribs are very sore as is my front. still shorness of breath but not as it was yesterday. Should I see my DR.?
YYYY@YYYY
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
If the improvement doesn’t continue, please see your doctor!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about these symptoms that you have reported. I have reviewed your symptoms and the surrounding circumstances. The cause of these symptoms is the exposure to chlorine fumes which irritates the airways and provoke intense coughing. This is probably what happened and explains the bloody sputum and painful muscles as they were used in repeated coughing efforts as a result of the irritation.

The exposure is over. I hope you never get to do so again as this can greatly damage the airways and predispose you to chronic respiratory difficulties. The next thing to do is to help you recover from this exposure. There is no specific drug for that but accompanying measures. For instance if you cannot breath alone, we offer supportive measures like oxygen, breathing machine, etc. From your information, you are not yet at this level and it is my thinking that you would not benefit from any extra aggressive medical intervention beyond observation.

For now, there is no added benefits going to the hospital as long as you are getting better. However, if anything seems worse, I will suggest that you only vista the hospital at that time. For the severe muscle pains, Tylenol would help.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (2 hours later)
I made it to my Dr, it's chemical pneumonia, they want me in the hospital.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Okay....That is fine!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

if you have difficulties breathing, definitely you need to be in the hospital for support. However, because you are getting better, am not exactly sure what extra added benefits the hospital would bring at this time.

Because i always prefer to be safe than sorry, I would be happy that you go in. Do well to update me on the progress and how you are doing.

I wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (12 hours later)
I opted not to go to the hospital, this little town's hospital is not good. Comprimise made to go back this morning to my DR. They gave me shots of steroids and put me on an antibiotic, as a precaution. Can you tell me how long it takes to get over this and if there may be lasting effects? It is easier for me to type as I can barely talk. I appreciate any information you can give me.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It depends on the severity!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

How soon you would recover and whether you develop any complications depends on the severity of the inflammatory reaction. if it is mild it would be long and if sever, it would be long. The severity can only be established with certainty after a good examination. That I didn’t do and guess the doctor who evaluated you would be better at responding to this question.

If you have any added details that he provided which make reference to possible severity, update me with them so that I can try to figure out how much time we may be looking at for healing.

I hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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What Are The Side Effects Of Inhale Bleach Fumes?

Brief Answer: If the improvement doesn’t continue, please see your doctor! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about these symptoms that you have reported. I have reviewed your symptoms and the surrounding circumstances. The cause of these symptoms is the exposure to chlorine fumes which irritates the airways and provoke intense coughing. This is probably what happened and explains the bloody sputum and painful muscles as they were used in repeated coughing efforts as a result of the irritation. The exposure is over. I hope you never get to do so again as this can greatly damage the airways and predispose you to chronic respiratory difficulties. The next thing to do is to help you recover from this exposure. There is no specific drug for that but accompanying measures. For instance if you cannot breath alone, we offer supportive measures like oxygen, breathing machine, etc. From your information, you are not yet at this level and it is my thinking that you would not benefit from any extra aggressive medical intervention beyond observation. For now, there is no added benefits going to the hospital as long as you are getting better. However, if anything seems worse, I will suggest that you only vista the hospital at that time. For the severe muscle pains, Tylenol would help. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.