Breathing problems from chemicals, gases or fumes
Also known as: Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes or vapours, unspecified
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
Inhalation injuries are acute injuries to the respiratory system and lungs that can happen from breathing in toxic substances, such as smoke, chemicals, particle pollution, and gases, or from extreme heat. Symptoms often include coughing, phlegm, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, headaches, stinging eyes, and a runny nose. To treat these injuries, a health care provider makes sure that the airway is not blocked, and treatment is with oxygen therapy, medicines in some cases, or a ventilator.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
Inhalation injuries are acute injuries to your respiratory system and lungs. They can happen if you breathe in toxic substances, such as smoke (from fires), chemicals, particle pollution, and gases. Inhalation injuries can also be caused by extreme heat; these are a type of thermal injuries. Over half of deaths from fires are due to inhalation injuries.
Symptoms of inhalation injuries can depend on what you breathed in. But they often include:
- Coughing and phlegm
- A scratchy throat
- Irritated sinuses
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Headaches
- Stinging eyes
- A runny nose
If you have a chronic heart or lung problem, an inhalation injury can make it worse.
To make a diagnosis, your health care provider may use a scope to look at your airways and check for damage. Other possible tests include imaging tests of the lungs, blood tests, and lung function tests.
If you have an inhalation injury, your health care provider will make sure that your airway is not blocked. Treatment is with oxygen therapy, and in some cases, medicines. Some patients need to use a ventilator to breathe. Most people get better, but some people have permanent lung or breathing problems. Smokers and people who had a severe injury are at a greater risk of having permanent problems.
You can take steps to try to prevent inhalation injuries:
- At home, practice fire safety, which includes preventing fires and having a plan in case there is a fire
- If there is smoke from a wildfire nearby or lots of particulate pollution in the air, try to limit your time outdoors. Keep your indoor air as clean as possible, by keeping windows closed and using an air filter. If you have asthma, another lung disease, or heart disease, follow your health care provider's advice about your medicines and respiratory management plan.
- If you are working with chemicals or gases, handle them safely and use protective equipment
Next to it in ICD-10
- J43Emphysema
- J44COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- J45Asthma
- J80Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- J82Pulmonary eosinophilia
- J96Respiratory failure
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Breathing problems from chemicals, gases or fumes?
J68 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Breathing problems from chemicals, gases or fumes?
CA81.Z: Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes or vapours, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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