What happens if you breathe in bed bug spray?

Author: Cierra Gusikowski  |  Last update: Monday, June 2, 2025

For sprays that contain pyrethrins: For simple exposure or inhaling small amounts, recovery should occur. Severe breathing difficulty can quickly become life threatening.

How harmful is bed bug spray to humans?

Even pesticides registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for bed bug use are linked to acute poisoning, cancer, hormone disruption, asthma, neurotoxicity, organ damage, and more. Use of these measures poses more dangers than any perceived short-term benefit.

What happens if you inhale too much bed bug spray?

Many insecticides can cause poisoning after being swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Symptoms may include eye tearing, coughing, heart problems, and breathing difficulties. The diagnosis is based on symptoms, blood tests, and a description of events surrounding the poisoning.

What to do if I inhaled bug spray?

If a pesticide is inhaled, the affected person should be moved to fresh air right away and tight clothing loosened. Medical treatment should be sought immediately, and artificial respiration used if breathing has stopped or if the victim's skin is blue.

What happens if you sleep with bug spray on?

If it hasn't worn off by bedtime, you'll want to wash it off with soap and water, as it can be irritating if left on overnight. Unless you are camping overnight in an area with ticks or mosquitoes, you don't want it sitting on your skin if insects aren't a concern. “If you don't need it on, get it off,” Waldman says.

ULTIMATE Bed Bug Solution! AMAZING. This ALWAYS works.

Can you sleep in room after bed bug spray?

It is perfectly fine to resume sleeping on your bed after a bed bug treatment. However, note that you may have to wait for around four to five hours after the treatment to return to the house. Also, ensure to use bed casings before getting on the bed.

What to do if I inhaled a bug?

If you think that someone may have inhaled an object seek urgent medical care. Coughing may help to dislodge an inhaled object. Do not use the Heimlich manoeuvre on children. This can cause damage to internal organs.

How long after spraying bug spray is it safe for humans?

If possible, they should stay inside or avoid the area for about 30 minutes after spraying. If pesticides are applied inside the home, windows should be opened to allow air flow.

What to do after inhaling spray?

First Aid in Case of Pesticide Exposure
  1. Call 911 if the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing or having convulsions.
  2. Check the label for directions on first aid for that product.
  3. Call the Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222 for help with first aid information.

Is Raid Bed bug spray safe for humans?

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT FOR USE ON HUMANS OR ANIMALS. In the home, all food/feed processing surfaces and utensils should be covered during treatment, or thoroughly washed before use.

What are the symptoms of bed bug spray poisoning?

Symptoms of swallowing sprays that contain pyrethrins are:
  • Breathing difficulty.
  • Coughing.
  • Loss of alertness (stupor), from the blood oxygen level being out of balance.
  • Tremors (if a large amount is swallowed)
  • Seizures (if a large amount is swallowed)
  • Upset stomach, including cramps, stomach pain, and nausea.
  • Vomiting.

How to treat chemical inhalation at home?

Treatment for inhalation exposures
  1. Ventilate the area. Open the windows and turn on the fan.
  2. Leave the area and get fresh air. Fresh air may resolve many uncomfortable symptoms.
  3. Treat the symptoms that are not alleviated by the fresh air:

What happens if you inhale bed bug fogger?

Foggers can trigger asthma attacks or other severe respiratory reactions, requiring emergency care. Infants and children are at greater risk for pesticide exposure because they spend time near treated flooring and put household objects in their mouth.

What happens if you breath in bed bug spray?

Poisonous Ingredient

Most household bug sprays contain plant-derived chemicals called pyrethrins. These chemicals were originally isolated from chrysanthemum flowers and are generally not harmful. However, they can cause life-threatening breathing problems if they are breathed in.

Why do I keep smelling bug spray?

If you become extra sensitive, you may smell the odor when others do not notice it. There are also differences in chemicals – some chemicals have very low “odor thresholds” and can be detected at very low levels, sometimes lower than the most sensitive monitoring equipment can detect.

What happens if you get bed bug spray on your skin?

Hives, skin irritation, redness, and burning sensations are some of the more common skin reactions. If you believe you have been poisoned by bug spray or insecticide, immediately call for help.

How long does it take to recover from chemical inhalation?

Chemical Inhalation

If you've inhaled chemical fumes, you may experience shortness of breath, coughing, throat and nose irritation, and upper chest pain. The treatment is usually to breathe fresh air and symptoms should go away within 24 hours.

What are the symptoms of aerosol poisoning?

Symptoms
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Breathing difficulty.
  • Burning pain in the throat.
  • Burns to the eye, redness, tearing.
  • Collapse.
  • Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness)
  • Diarrhea (watery, bloody)

What happens if you inhale too much room spray?

Anyone can be affected by direct exposure to high levels of product. There are case reports of air freshener overdose from inhaling the spray at close range. This has caused rapid heartbeat that required hospitalization. 1,2 These cases have been caused by the butane propellant that is used to spray the product.

Is it safe to sleep after bed bug spray?

You may continue to sleep in your bed after treatment. Encasements should be put on mattresses and box springs. Any surviving bed bugs in the mattress or box spring will not be able to escape the encasement or bite.

Is proof bed bug spray toxic to humans?

Proof is plant-based and is safe to use around people and pets.

Can I sleep in my room after spraying bug spray?

So, no matter what pest control treatment you need to get done at your house you can sleep in your home after treatment.

Can aspiration clear up on its own?

When the respiratory system is healthy and strong, pulmonary aspiration often clears up on its own. When the respiratory system is compromised or a digestive disorder causes chronic pulmonary aspiration, a bacterial infection can occur, causing pneumonia.

What can I do if I inhaled toxic fumes?

Intoxication by inhalation:
  1. Call emergency numbers for help.
  2. Take the necessary precautions to protect yourself before trying to save the injured person. ...
  3. Open windows and doors to let toxic gases and fumes out.
  4. Immediately take the victim out to fresh air.

What are signs of aspiration pneumonia?

Many of the symptoms of aspiration pneumonia are the same as pneumonia caused by viral or bacterial exposure, including:
  • Chest pain.
  • Wheezing.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Cough with discolored sputum.
  • Blue coloring of the extremities.
  • Bad breath.
  • Fatigue.
  • Fever.

Previous article
What if a roach touches me?
Next article
What is the life expectancy of a non stick pan?