Metal fume fever

Metal fume fever is when someone gets sick from breathing in tiny pieces of metal that float in the air. Imagine you are playing with some shiny Lego pieces, but instead of just seeing them on the ground, they are so small you can't even see them! When you breathe in those tiny pieces of metal, they can make you feel like you have a cold or the flu.

People who work with metal, like welders or machinists, can be especially prone to getting metal fume fever because they are around metal all the time. This can happen when they are melting, cutting, or welding metal. The tiny metal particles float into their lungs and stick there.

These tiny pieces of metal are not supposed to be in your body, so your body tries to fight them off. This can make you feel sick. Some people might get a headache, feel tired or achy, or have a fever. Just like when you get sick with a cold or the flu, resting, drinking fluids, and taking medicine (if a doctor says it's okay) can help you feel better.

It's important to try and prevent getting metal fume fever as much as possible. Wearing a protective mask or respirator when working with metal can help keep the tiny metal pieces from getting into your lungs. It's also a good idea to make sure the area you are working in is well-ventilated so that the metal fumes have somewhere to go instead of staying in the air you breathe.