The number of annual cases of accidental exposure to water-soluble liquid detergent pods is now more than twice that of conventional liquid detergents. This is why the General Directorate of Health reminds parents of the need to store all household products out of the reach of their children.
More than 7,500 accidents since 2005
From 2005 to 2012, 7,562 accidental exposures to the liquid contained in these detergent pods were recorded by the poison control and toxicovigilance centers. Among them, 104 cases were classified as serious (with severe respiratory complications and eye damage).
The majority were children under 5 years old (92% of cases), of which 7% were under one year old. Exposure was mainly oral, ocular or cutaneous, often multiple. Symptoms were digestive (vomiting, irritation, mucosal damage), ocular (conjunctivitis, corneal damage), respiratory (cough, breathing difficulties, infections) and skin (irritation, burns).
“The characteristics of the liquid detergent pods explain this increase in the number of accidents” underlines the General Directorate of Health. “Children are attracted to their often attractive color and are easy to handle due to their small size. In addition, the shell of the detergent capsule, which is designed to rupture in contact with water, also ruptures when exposed to water. contact with saliva as soon as the child puts it in the mouth. The liquid, highly concentrated in
surfactants, is very aggressive for the skin and mucous membranes, even corrosive in case of prolonged contact. In addition, its viscosity makes it difficult to clean the mucous membranes “insist the health authorities.
What to do in the event of an accident
On the skin : rinse immediately and abundantly for ten minutes, after undressing if necessary.
In the mouth : Thoroughly clean the mouth with a washcloth or a clean damp cloth to remove as much product as possible. Avoid drinks for two hours but feed a compote, a dessert cream, bread or cakes to absorb the product and line the digestive mucosa.
In the eye : wash the eye under a stream of water, if possible lukewarm, including under the eyelids for ten minutes (tap water is fine).
In all cases, call a poison control center for immediate medical advice appropriate to the situation. And in case of breathing difficulties, call the 15th without delay.