What to do after inhaling mosquito repellent?

Author: Lonny Jast  |  Last update: Monday, August 4, 2025

Get medical help right away. Do not make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

What happens if you accidentally inhale mosquito repellent?

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.

What happens when you breathe in mosquito spray?

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

Is breathing mosquito repellent safe?

People who have inhaled DEET repellents have reported coughing and respiratory irritation. If eaten, they can cause stomach and digestive irritation. Although rare and largely due to accidents or overexposures, neurological effects have been reported.

What should I drink after inhaling insecticide?

A conscious victim should drink a small amount of water to dilute the pesticide. Call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Induce vomiting only if a poison center or physician advises you to do so.

Pesticide Emergency: Inhalation

What should I do if I inhale too much insecticide?

Get medical help right away. Do not make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. If the person breathed in the poison, move them to fresh air right away.

What should I drink after inhaling toxic fumes?

If symptoms persist call your doctor. Throat irritation — drink cool fluids such as ice water or milk. Coughing, chest congestion — run hot water in a bathroom (with the door closed) and inhale the steam. This procedure may be repeated as needed.

What are the effects of mosquito repellent on humans?

However, adverse effects of DEET have been reported, with some being severe enough to cause sensory disturbances and affect motor capacity, memory, and learning ability [2–8]. In addition, DEET is not recommended for children, because high concentrations of DEET can cause encephalopathy and other side effects [9, 10].

How long should you stay out of a room after spraying insecticide?

The typical time most harsher pesticide treatments need for a safe return is between 2 and 4 hours. After that time, an additional 30 minutes is recommended to let the building breathe. This should be done with windows open and fans running to allow air levels inside to return to normal.

Is it OK to sleep with mosquito repellent?

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.

How long should you stay inside after mosquito spraying?

Steps you should take:

If possible, remain inside or avoid the area whenever spraying takes place and for about 30 minutes after spraying. That time period will greatly reduce the likelihood of your breathing pesticides in the air.

Is smelling mosquito repellent harmful?

Inhalation of mosquito repellants in forms of sprays or vapourizers even if in low concentration leads to neurotoxic and immunotoxic illnesses [9] Exposure to Black mosquito coil is hazardous as it damages the lungs [10].

How to treat chemical inhalation at home?

Open windows and doors to let toxic gases and fumes out. Immediately take the victim out to fresh air. Relieve any pressure on their body by loosening neck ties and removing tight clothing. Avoid lighting matches or using a lighter, because some gases are flammable.

What happens if you inhale too much citronella?

It might cause skin reactions or irritation in some people. When inhaled: Citronella oil is likely unsafe. Lung damage has been reported.

Is DEET toxic if inhaled?

DEET has an excellent safety profile and has remarkable protection against mosquitoes, ticks and various other arthropods. Toxicity is unusual, and is generally associated with incorrect, or overuse of the product. We report a patient with severe toxicity following inhalational exposure to a "bug bomb".

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.

What to do after inhaling insecticide?

Inhaled poison.

Carry or drag victim to fresh air immediately. If you think you need protection such as a respirator and one is not available to you, call the Fire Department and wait for emergency equipment before entering the area. Loosen victim's tight clothing.

Can I sleep in my room after spraying?

The standard practice is to wait two to four hours post-treatment before re-entering your home. This precaution minimizes health risks from chemical exposure.

How long does it take for pesticide to leave your system?

Many pesticides are readily removed by the body ( e.g., in urine or feces) in a matter of hours or days.

What happens if you inhale too much mosquito repellent?

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.

Is mosquito spray toxic to humans?

While the risk to humans from pyrethroids is relatively low when applied properly, these products are far from harmless to human health. People exposed to large amounts of pyrethroids can experience effects like stinging skin, dizziness, headache, or nausea that might last for several hours.

What are the side effects of mosquito insecticide?

However, there could be some individuals who may be particularly sensitive to malathion or petroleum solvents, and could possibly experience short-term effects such as eye, skin, nose or throat irritation; nausea; breathing problems; or skin rashes.

How do you get toxic fumes out of your system?

Carbon dioxide is a waste product or toxin, and we get rid of it by breathing it out. Other organs that help remove toxins include the liver, skin, kidneys, intestines, lymph nodes, and blood vessels. In addition to breathing out, we remove toxic products through urine, feces, and sweating.

When should you go to ER for chemical inhalation?

Chemical Inhalation:

If experiencing extreme pain or difficulty breathing, get medical care as soon as possible! If the affected person is unconscious, move the exposed person to fresh air at once, if safe to do so, and request emergency medical assistance (call 911 or tell someone to call for you).

Does milk help with chemical inhalation?

The respiratory system is where the most harmful consequences of welding fumes are experienced, like lung cancer. Therefore, drinking milk is not a substitute for taking appropriate safety precautions.

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