Poisons by Detergents
Reports from poison control centers indicate an increasing number of incidents in which children have swallowed detergents. Although the symptoms of such poisonings may be serious, actual cases of death are rare. Symptoms include vomiting, restlessness, difficult breathing, mental confusion, muscle weakness, convulsions, possible collapse, unconsciousness, and death due to paralysis of the breathing muscles.
WHAT TO DO
For poisoning by a simple detergent, cause the patient to vomit by the use of syrup of ipecac as instructed in the paragraph, To Induce Vomiting under PROCEDURE E on this post. Follow this by having him drink milk or egg white to soothe the inflamed membranes. Assist the patient's breathing, if necessary, by artificial respiration. For stronger detergents such as those prepared for automatic dishwashers, these being caustic in their effect on the tissues, follow PROCEDURE C on this post
