Chemical Pneumonitis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Chemical pneumonitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the airways and lungs. This inflammation may cause fluid in the lungs and trouble breathing. Chemical pneumonitis is usually caused by breathing in chemicals or fumes that irritate or damage the lungs. Chemical pneumonitis may cause symptoms that range from mild to serious, even life threatening. You may be treated at home, or need to stay in the hospital for tests and treatment.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a current list of your medicines: Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists. Use vitamins, herbs, or food supplements only as directed.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him about any medicine allergies, and if you want to quit taking or change your medicine.
  
  
• You may need medicines to help you feel better faster, or to prevent other lung problems. These medicines may include one or more of the following:
  
  
  • Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight or prevent an infection caused by bacteria. Always take your antibiotics exactly as ordered by your primary healthcare provider. Do not stop taking your medicine unless directed by your primary healthcare provider. Never save antibiotics or take leftover antibiotics that were given to you for another illness.
    
    
  • Steroids: Steroid medicine may help to open your air passages so you can breathe easier. Do not stop taking this medicine without your caregiver's OK. Stopping on your own can cause problems.
    
    
  • Cough medicine:
    
    
    • You may need a cough medicine to help loosen phlegm in your lungs and make it easier to cough up. This type of cough medicine is called an expectorant. Drink plenty of water if you are taking an expectorant type of cough medicine. Coughing the phlegm out of your lungs can help you breathe easier.
      
      
    • A type of cough medicine that decreases your urge to cough is called a cough suppressant. If your cough is producing mucus, do not take a cough suppressant unless your caregiver tells you to. For example, your caregiver may suggest that you take a cough suppressant at night so you can rest.
    
    
  • Over-the-counter medicine: Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are the kind you buy without an order (prescription) from a doctor. OTC medicine may be used to treat pain, or decrease a high body temperature (fever). These medicines are safe to use and can help you feel better when they are used correctly. However, they can cause serious problems when they are not used correctly. People with certain medical problems, or using certain medicines are at higher risk. Using too much, or using these medicines for longer than the label says can also cause problems. Follow directions on the label carefully. If you have questions, talk to your caregiver.
    
    
  • Inhalers: Your caregiver may give you one or more inhalers to help you breathe easier and cough less. An inhaler gives your medicine in a mist form so that you can breathe it into your lungs. Using an inhaler the right way takes practice. The following steps may help you when using the most common type of inhaler:
    
    
    • __ 1. Shake the inhaler 10 to 15 times to make sure you get the correct amount of medicine per puff. Remove the cover from your inhaler's mouthpiece. If you are using a spacer, connect your inhaler to the flat (blunt) end of the spacer. A spacer is a plastic chamber that attaches to the mouthpiece of your inhaler. A spacer makes it easier for you to inhale (breathe in) your medicine.
      
      
    • __ 2. Breathe in deeply, then breathe out as much air from your lungs as you can. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth past your front teeth and rest it on the top of your tongue. Do not block the mouthpiece opening with your tongue.
      
      
    • __ 3. Breathe in through your mouth at a slow and steady rate. As you do this, press the inhaler to release the puff of medicine. Finish breathing in slowly and deeply as you inhale the medicine. When your lungs are full, hold your breath for 10 seconds. Then breathe out slowly through puckered lips or through your nose.
      
      
    • __ 4. If you need to take more puffs, wait at least one minute between each puff.
      
      
    • __ 5. Rinse your mouth with water after using the inhaler. Rinsing may keep you from getting a mouth infection or irritation.
      
      
    • __ 6. Follow the instructions that come with your inhaler to clean it. You should clean your inhaler at least once a week.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Activity and home care:

Your caregiver may suggest some of the following treatments or lifestyle changes to help you get better:

• Avoid things that can irritate your lungs.
  
  
  • Stay away from chemicals, fumes, and dust until you feel better. Always follow the directions on the labels of cleaning products and other chemicals. Open a window when you use these products, especially when you are in a small room. Do not spray or use chemicals outside when it is windy. If you must work in the wind, stand so that the chemicals are blowing away from you, instead of toward you. Wear a mask over your mouth and nose, and wear clothing that protects your skin.
    
    
  • Learn about the chemicals and materials in your workplace that may cause breathing problems. Always follow directions when working around these chemicals and materials. Wear the correct protective equipment, such as a mask or gloves when working with chemicals and dangerous materials.
    
    
  • Do not smoke, and do not allow others to smoke around you. Smoking increases your risk of lung infections and long-term breathing problems. Talk to your caregiver if you need help quitting smoking.
  
  
• Use a humidifier or vaporizer. Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer to increase air moisture in your home. This may make it easier for you to breathe, and help decrease your cough. Wash the humidifier each day with soap and warm water to keep it free of germs.
  
  
• Drink enough liquids. Be sure to drink enough liquids every day. Most people should drink at least eight (8 ounce) cups of water a day. This helps to keep your air passages moist and better able to get rid of germs and other irritants.
  
  
• While you are sick, do not drink alcohol. Alcohol dulls your urge to cough and sneeze. When you have lung problems, you need to be able to cough and sneeze to clear your air passages. Alcohol also causes your body to lose fluid. This can make the mucus in your lungs thicker and harder to cough up.
  
  
• Exercise your lungs. Deep breathing helps to open the air passages in your lungs. Coughing helps to bring up sputum (mucus) from your lungs. Take a deep breath and hold the breath as long as you can. Then push the air out of your lungs with a deep, strong cough. Put any sputum that you have coughed up into a tissue and throw it away. Take 10 deep breaths in a row every hour that you are awake. Remember to follow each deep breath with a cough.

For more information:

Contact the following for more information about chemical pneumonitis and safety in the workplace:

• American Lung Association
  1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
  Washington , DC 20004
  Phone: 1- 202 - 785-3355
  Phone: 1- 800 - 548-8252
  Web Address: www.lung.org
  

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  1600 Clifton Road
  Atlanta , GA 30333
  Phone: 1- 404 - 6393311
  Phone: 1- 800 - 3113435
  Web Address: http://www.cdc.gov
  

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), US Dept of Labor
  200 Constitution Ave
  Washington , DC 20210
  Phone: 1- 800 - 321-6742
  Web Address: http://www.osha.gov
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• Your skin is itchy, or you have a rash. Your medicines may be causing these symptoms. This may mean you are allergic to your medicine.
  
  
• Your chest pain or breathing problems do not go away or they get worse.
  
  
• Your cough does not get better with treatment.
  
  
• You begin to cough up blood.
  
  
• You start throwing up or having diarrhea.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You find it very hard to breathe.
  
  
• You faint, feel like fainting, or have new problems thinking clearly.
  
  
• Your lips or fingernails turn dusky or blue.
  
  
• You have swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat that makes it hard to breathe or swallow.

Learn more about Chemical Pneumonitis (Discharge Care)