Can paint fumes make you ill like this?

Yes.

Milk is good for the scratchy throat - the fats absorb the solvent molecules / leave a protective oily film on the mucus membranes

Fresh air should clear the head - so open windows and improve ventilation as much as possible.

Finally, report this to health and safety immediately - at least 3 people have now been affected, and while the symptoms are unlikely to be long-term, this sort of thing needs picking up on !

I was reading the other day about the increased risk in painters of lung cancer because of the volatile carcinogens in paints.

Hope you feel better soon!

Yes it can.

I'm asthmatic and by far the worst stage for me is when the paint is drying. I once had to go to A&E as it prompted such a violent attack. The Dr there (no idea how true this is) said that paint releases most of it's chemicals during the drying process. If we have the house painted I have to go away and stay somewhere else, great excuse though ? I am fine with gloss paint it's only emulsion and I find the cheaper the paint the worse my reaction.

I think you should let them know at work and find out what brand of paint they are using so you can avoid it in future.

Thanks all.... well I haven't got any milk here but can have a glass when I get home. The windows in my office are painted shut (helpfully) but I'll get them to open the window in the corridor, hopefully that will help although I'm sure they won't want to as it's freezing today! I'll let the health and safety person know too, I'm fairly sure that's one of the people who had a headache yesterday so really he ought to already know but maybe no one has put 2+2 together yet. Joy!