Smoke inhalation
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Smoke inhalation
Smoke inhalation occurs when a person breathes in hot air, smoke, or chemical fumes, which can cause burns or swelling in the air passages. Life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning can occur with smoke inhalation.
The person may be restless, confused, or violent from the smoke and toxic gases inhaled. A changed mental state may be a direct effect of the toxins or may be caused by a lack of oxygen (hypoxia).
Urgent medical attention is needed for someone with symptoms of smoke inhalation. These symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Noisy breathing.
- Wheezing.
- Hoarseness, difficulty speaking, or inability to speak in full sentences.
- Coughing.
- Dark-colored sputum.
- A change in mental state, such as restlessness, confusion, or sleepiness (lethargy).
Credits
| Author | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Editor | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Last Updated | February 2, 2007 |
| Last updated: | February 02, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Reviewed By: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Editors: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer |
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