Upper aerodigestive injuries from detergent ingestion in children

Objectives

To describe the clinical presentations and management of detergent pod ingestion at a tertiary children's hospital.

Study Design

Case series.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of children diagnosed with detergent pod ingestion from June 2010 and March 2015.

Results

Nine cases of detergent pod ingestion were included over a 5-year period. The average age was 26.3 months (range, 11–43 months). Eight (89%) of the cases were female. The patients had ingested laundry detergent pods (n = 7) and dishwasher detergent pods (n = 2). The majority of patients (67%) had more than one clinical manifestation from ingestion. Presenting symptoms included emesis (78%), respiratory symptoms (56%), throat pain (22%), drooling (33%), and foaming at the mouth (33%). The management of patients depended on the severity of their symptoms and included admission to an overnight observation unit (n = 5), discharge to home directly from the emergency department (n = 2), and admission to the hospital (n = 2). Two (22%) children underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. One child (11%) required intubation from bilateral vocal fold immobility.

Conclusion

Injuries to the upper aerodigestive tract after detergent ingestion range from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to respiratory compromise. The majority of children improve with observation alone; however, clinicians should maintain a low threshold for endoscopic evaluation in cases of severe symptoms and airway involvement.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 2016

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