OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the toxicity of liquid detergent capsules for children.
METHODS: Analysis of 684 consecutive cases from the Paris Poison Center (2011-2012).
RESULTS: Most enquiries (97 %) concerned children 5years of age or younger. The main circumstances of exposure were ingestion alone (72.4 %) or together with eye or skin contact (7.5 % and 7.3 %, respectively). The effects observed were generally due to the irritating properties of concentrated detergents: minor digestive disturbances (particularly vomiting in nearly 50 % of cases) after ingestion and conjunctivitis and/or keratitis after eye contact. The main complications were 24 cases of keratitis and one case of pulmonary toxicity after ingestion. A rash was observed in nine patients; it was delayed in two.
CONCLUSIONS: The effects observed with liquid detergent capsules were very similar to those resulting from exposure to other detergents. However, exposure to these agents are very frequent and often results in eye contact, which may be responsible for keratitis, and after ingestion detergent inhalation is a possible complication. All cases with eye symptoms or cough after liquid detergent capsule exposure deserve prompt medical examination and assistance. Greater awareness of both health professionals and consumers on the dangers and risks of these laundry detergent pods is required for better treatment of exposure accidents and for their prevention.