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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Dizziness, Breathing Problems, Wheezing, Weakness, Pneumonia Symptoms After Smelling Moth Balls. Side Effect?

Every time I visit a friend I notice heavy smell of moth balls and within 10-20 minutes I feel lightheaded and restriction in my breathing. I later learned she uses them in high quantities, and sprinkles them all over her house. Anytime I have visited and left her house I feel dizzy, heavy wheezing, gasping hard for air, and then at night when I am lying on my back I hear/feel crackling (like bubbles popping or rice crispy's popping) in my throat. Last year the symptoms worsened and had a fever of 103 for nearly 4 weeks with excessive coughing, wheezing, weakness, dizziness, and pneumonia like symptoms. Is this an effect from the moth balls?
posted on Tue, 29 Oct 2013
Twitter Tue, 29 Oct 2013 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 29 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

Moth balls contain naphthalene and they can be a chemical irritant when inhaled by many people. Looks like your respiratory tract is sensitive to the chemical in moth balls and gives rise to a hypersensitivity reaction. The crackling of throat is due to swelling of the mucosal lining of the throat and airway constriction. This gives rise to wheezing and breathing difficulties.

You should stay away form moth balls and if you are still having wheezing and dizziness, please take antihistamine medication like benadryl and go out for walk in fresh air.

Hope this helps

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Dizziness, Breathing Problems, Wheezing, Weakness, Pneumonia Symptoms After Smelling Moth Balls. Side Effect?

Hi, Thanks for writing in. Moth balls contain naphthalene and they can be a chemical irritant when inhaled by many people. Looks like your respiratory tract is sensitive to the chemical in moth balls and gives rise to a hypersensitivity reaction. The crackling of throat is due to swelling of the mucosal lining of the throat and airway constriction. This gives rise to wheezing and breathing difficulties. You should stay away form moth balls and if you are still having wheezing and dizziness, please take antihistamine medication like benadryl and go out for walk in fresh air. Hope this helps