Can you get pneumonia from Vicks VapoRub?

Unfortunately, besides being extremely uncomfortable, using VapoRub in your nostrils puts you at risk of developing an extremely ominous-sounding illness called exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP), which results from the aspiration or inhalation of fat-like material of animal, vegetable or mineral origin.

Can putting Vicks on your chest cause pneumonia?

In this case report we highlight Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia (ELP), an uncommon condition that results from accumulation of exogenous lipids in the alveoli, as an adverse side effect of long-term Vicks VapoRub use.

Can Vicks causes respiratory problems?

Rubin and colleagues suggest that Vicks VapoRub may stimulate the production of mucus and inflame the airways, which can severely affect breathing in infants and toddlers because their airways are narrow.

Can Vicks VapoRub cause lung inflammation?

The salve is widely used to relieve symptoms of colds and congestion, but there are few data supporting an actual clinical benefit, according to Rubin. Vicks has been reported to cause inflammation in the eyes, mental status changes, lung inflammation, liver damage, constriction of airways and allergic reactions.

Is Vicks VapoRub harmful?

Swallowing a few teaspoons of camphor — one of the main ingredients in VapoRub and other topical medications, such as Campho-Phenique and Bengay — can cause deadly poisoning in toddlers. Topical camphor absorbed through mucous membranes or broken skin also can be toxic.

10 Ways You Should be using Vicks Vaporub

What happens if you inhale too much Vicks?

However, if too much camphor is swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, it can poison young children, causing vomiting, seizures, respiratory distress, coma, or death. In addition, vaporub should ONLY be used as directed: Applied only to the chest, back, or throat; not to the nostrils or on open wounds.

What happens if you use too much Vicks VapoRub?

It contains a poisonous ingredient: Vicks VapoRub is made of camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol. Camphor is poisonous when swallowed. 2 It can cause seizures, coma, or death. This is true even for small amounts.

Is it OK to use Vicks everyday?

A: For cough suppression, Vicks VapoRub may be used up to 3 times daily or as directed by your doctor. Simply rub a thick layer on your chest and throat. For muscle/joint minor aches and pains, Vicks VapoRub may be applied to the affected area not more than 3 to 4 times daily.

What causes pneumonia?

Common Causes of Pneumonia

Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can all cause pneumonia. In the United States, common causes of viral pneumonia are influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). A common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).

Can you put Vicks VapoRub on your chest?

Vicks VapoRub is an ointment that you can use on your skin. The manufacturer recommends rubbing it on your chest or throat to relieve congestion from colds.

Can Vicks make a cough worse?

Dr. Rubin says the ingredients in Vicks can be irritants, causing the body to produce more mucus to protect the airway, and infants and young children have airways that are much narrower than those of adults, so any increase in mucus or inflammation can narrow them more severely.

Is Vicks VapoRub good for bronchitis?

It is concluded that Vaporub is effective in decreasing restlessness in children suffering from acute bronchitis. This effect is quite marked and cannot be due solely to psychological effects of the rub therapy, or to effects of petrolatum without aromatics.

What is lipoid pneumonia?

Lipoid pneumonia is an uncommon disease caused by the presence of lipid in the alveoli. It is classified into two major groups, depending on whether the lipid/oil in the respiratory tract is from an exogenous (exogenous lipoid pneumonia) or endogenous/idiopathic (endogenous lipoid pneumonia) source.

Can you put Vicks on your chest if you have COVID-19?

Long story short, the petrolatum base of VapoRub, when inhaled, can travel to the lungs, where it collects and causes ground-glass opacities — a type of damage also associated with COVID-19. If you're feeling ill from any respiratory ailment, using VapoRub on your chest or in a vaporizer may soothe your symptoms.

What are the 4 stages of pneumonia?

How long does it take for lungs to clear from pneumonia?

"Pneumonia is a serious illness that can take quite a toll on a person's lungs and body. It can take anywhere from a week to several months to fully recover from it," says Dr. Rayman Lee, pulmonologist at Houston Methodist.

What are the first signs of Covid pneumonia?

How do you catch pneumonia at home?

What puts you at risk for pneumonia?

You're more likely to get pneumonia if you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) or heart disease. Smoking. Smoking damages your body's natural defenses against the bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia. Weakened or suppressed immune system.

Is it OK to put Vicks under your nose?

The short answer is no. It's not safe to use VVR inside or around your nose. If you do, it could be absorbed into your body through the mucus membranes lining your nostrils. VVR contains camphor, which can have toxic effects inside your body.

What does putting Vicks on your feet with socks do?

So, Vicks on your feet could really work, or it may be psychological. "By concentrating on something else, i.e. the process of putting Vicks on with the socks, you are reducing your stress levels," psychologist Lynne Jordan told the Daily Mail.

Can you sleep with Vicks VapoRub?

The results of a 2017 study, in which adult cold patients self-reported how they slept, suggest that using VapoRub can improve subjective sleep quality.

How many times can you use Vicks Vapor Inhaler?

Use as often as needed. Children under 12 do not use.

Where do you put Vicks on a stuffy nose?

For example, place your index fingers on both sides of your nose where the nose and cheek meet (with one finger on each side), and apply moderate pressure for 2 to 3 minutes. You can also use your index fingers to apply pressure on the bridge of your nose, right between your eyebrows; hold for 2 to 3 minutes.

What does lipoid pneumonia feel like?

Symptoms of lipoid pneumonia—chest pain, difficulty breathing, chronic coughing, or even coughing up blood—can be similar to some symptoms of bacterial pneumonia. The two conditions are treated differently, though. With bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics can be given to treat the root cause.