Breathing Smoke or Fumes
Breathing Smoke or FumesSkip to the navigationTopic OverviewIt is common to cough for a few minutes after breathing in smoke or
fumes from a fire. Your breathing should return to normal within a short period
of time, about 30 minutes. If your breathing does not return to normal or if your
breathing is getting worse instead of improving, it is important to think about
whether you are having breathing difficulties because of smoke
inhalation. Smoke inhalation may occur in any fire. It is more likely to occur if
you: - Were trapped in an enclosed space with smoke and
fumes.
- Have soot around your nose or mouth.
- Have facial
burns.
- Have singed nasal hairs.
- Have breathed in smoke
from burning man-made materials.
Symptoms of smoke inhalation include: - Difficulty breathing.
- Noisy
breathing.
- Wheezing.
- Hoarse voice, trouble speaking,
or inability to speak in full
sentences.
- Cough.
- Dark-colored mucus from the nose or
mouth.
- Change in mental state, such as restlessness, agitation,
confusion, or sleepiness (lethargy).
More serious smoke inhalation causes swelling (edema) in the air
passages. This swelling can also hurt the vocal cords, making it hard for the
person to talk.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious concern with
smoke inhalation injuries. If smoke inhalation causes serious symptoms, or if you have any
high-risk conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease, evaluation by a
doctor is needed. CreditsByHealthwise Staff Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine Specialist Medical ReviewerR. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology Current as of:
May 7, 2017 Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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