04/16/2017
Detergent ingestion is common among children less than 6 years old. Detergent laundry pods entered the US market in 2010. Since then, there has been a consistent dramatic increase in incidence. Last year, over 11,000 calls were made to poison control regarding laundry pod ingestion.
Laundry detergent pods are filled with concentrated detergent liquids or granules wrapped in a water-soluble membrane. They release their contents when exposed to moisture..
They are packaged in brightly colored, bite size, single use packets. Their smooth texture,size, colors, taste are easily and often mistaken for candy by children and make them irresistible to them. Detergent pod ingestion appears to result in more siginficant injuries then the more common traditional liquid detergents. The reason is not clear.
Symptoms of ingestion range from mild to severe. Drooling, emesis, throat pain are common. However, children can progress to respiratory distress, cyanosis, coma requiring aggressive ICU care. Mortality is rare but has been reported.
Treatment is primarily supportive care, depending on clinical situation, and severity of symptoms. Sometimes endoscopy is performed to evaluate the gastrointestinal area.
Limiting exposure to the pods is the ideal way to avoid ingestion and reduce the growing incidence. The container pods should be kept closed/ sealed and stored up high, out of reach of children. Improved child resistant packaging is critical , along with detailed product safety information and increased public education. The poison control center phone number should be readily available: 800-222-1222.
