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Exposed To Chlorine Gas. Breathing Difficulty, Throat Problems. What Is The Treatment And Recovery Time?
I was exposed to chlorine gas from pool closing. Treated first problems in throat and breathing as a cold . I did not tell my Doctor about the chlroine until 3 weeks after exposer. Treated breathing problems with Advair . After 3 months still having breathing problems. Discontinued Adviar as it appears to create further breathing problems. Any advice as it relates to recovery time and treatment. Respectfully, RTN
posted on
Tue, 22 Jan 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 22 Jan 2013
Answered on
Fri, 13 Sep 2013
Last reviewed on
hello and welcome to HCM,
I have understood you concern regarding the inhalation of chlorine.
In any inhalation related injury, the first treatment or the initial treatment which you received is important and also the symptoms are seen only in the acute phase. Since chlorine is a light gas, it will usually get dissolute or eliminated from the body via the lungs or the kidney in a matter of one to two weeks.
If you are feeling sore you may start an antibiotic like the amoxycillin-clavulanate 625 twice daily and pantoprazole twice daily. Your doctor will know about the same. Also add an antihistamine for around two weeks in consultation with your doctor.
Wait for at least one month for the symptoms to recover and if you still have breathing problem then you need to get an upper GI endoscopy and also an X ray of the chest and consult either a respiratory physician or an ENT
Hope you get well soon
Regards
Dr Sriram Nathan
I have understood you concern regarding the inhalation of chlorine.
In any inhalation related injury, the first treatment or the initial treatment which you received is important and also the symptoms are seen only in the acute phase. Since chlorine is a light gas, it will usually get dissolute or eliminated from the body via the lungs or the kidney in a matter of one to two weeks.
If you are feeling sore you may start an antibiotic like the amoxycillin-clavulanate 625 twice daily and pantoprazole twice daily. Your doctor will know about the same. Also add an antihistamine for around two weeks in consultation with your doctor.
Wait for at least one month for the symptoms to recover and if you still have breathing problem then you need to get an upper GI endoscopy and also an X ray of the chest and consult either a respiratory physician or an ENT
Hope you get well soon
Regards
Dr Sriram Nathan
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