Hi Dr. I need help and advice I was working as a house cleaner that s what I do for living. This morning I clean someone s house and I needed to use a bleach and other cleaning stuff to remove the mouldy bathroom and toilets. I was exposed and inhaled the chemicals for 3 hours. I feel dizzy, coughing and my eyes are burning. I just want to ask if what should I do , what are the treatment. Will this make a damage to my lungs? Thank you,
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your situation and problem. You are having inhalation induced symptoms. Yes, you are right about lung damage. It can damage lungs. But the damage depends on on1. Duration of exposure.2. Amount of exposure.3. Single exposure or continuous exposure.4. Underlying lung disease present or not.5. Smoker or not. So single exposure of bleach fumes do not harm much. But continuous exposure in person who is having lung disease with smoker can damage lungs. Since you are doing work of cleaning, bleach fumes exposure is unavoidable for you. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done chest x-ray and PFT (pulmonary function test) to rule out lung damage. And start wearing mask during work.