Surveillance detection of concentrated laundry detergent pack exposures

In early 2012, concentrated laundry detergent packs began to be marketed in the United States. Around May 2012, poison centers began to notice that they were handling serious exposures among young children to these products.

This investigation examined whether a surveillance algorithm might have identified the exposures to laundry detergent packs among young children.

Cases were exposures reported to Texas poison centers during January-June in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. The monthly number of exposures reported in 2012 was determined. The mean for the corresponding month in the preceding 3 years (2009, 2010, 2011) was calculated. If the 2012 monthly value was greater than the historic mean plus two standard deviations, then the 2012 value was considered to be elevated. The comparison was made for eight case definitions involving combinations of age (5 years or less), vomiting, and substance being laundry detergent.

When compared to historic values, in 2012 the monthly total exposures and all exposures involving young children were not elevated. Exposures among young children involving vomiting did not become elevated until June 2012. Exposures involving any laundry detergent became elevated in March and remained elevated through June.

Surveillance of total exposures, all exposures involving young children, and exposures involving vomiting would not have been effective for identifying the influx of calls due to exposures to laundry detergent packs involving young children. Surveillance of any laundry detergent exposures would have identified these calls almost immediately.