My father has been restoring a car for the last 4 years, stripping paint and using chemicals to clean the engine. He sometimes has the car running with the garage door closed. He has been getting a headache and sore throat lately. He also is getting the flu more often. The doctor says his RBC count is low. any thoughts on a diagnosis.
Hello and welcome to Chat Doctor, Regular exposure to chemicals can affect the blood cells. Exposure to chemicals can lead to bone marrow depression and thus reduction in blood cells. Headache and sore throat can be co-incidental findings and not be associated with exposure to chemicals and fumes. Low red blood cell counts can be due to bone marrow depression caused by chemicals and fumes. Exposure to chemicals and fumes should be discontinued and other blood parameters like white blood cell counts and platelet counts should also be determined. Consult your physician for investigations and further work up. Thanks and take care Chat Doctor.