Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
A Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization Method for the Gastropod Mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis
Published on: March 15, 2016
Laboratory features in acute paediatric poisoning with liquid laundry detergent capsules: a seven-year retrospective
Gabriela Viorela Nitescu1,2, Andreea Lescaie1,2, Ioana Ilisei2
1Pediatric Poison Center, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
Insights
Ingestion of liquid laundry detergent capsules by children can cause leucocytosis, acidosis, and hyperlactataemia. These laboratory abnormalities may occur even in less severe poisoning cases.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Acute poisoning from liquid laundry detergent capsules is increasingly reported.
- Limited data exists on laboratory findings in pediatric ingestions.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding laboratory test results post-ingestion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of liquid laundry detergent capsule ingestion on admission laboratory tests in pediatric patients.
- To investigate the relationship between poisoning severity and laboratory abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of pediatric patients (<18 years) with liquid laundry detergent capsule ingestion.
- Data collected from a pediatric poison center between 2015 and 2021.
- Statistical analysis (Fisher's exact test, ANOVA) used to correlate Poisoning Severity Score with lab results.
Main Results:
- 156 pediatric patients were included.
- Leukocytosis, acidosis, hyperlactataemia, and base deficit were common findings.
- Significant differences in white blood cell count, pH, and base excess were observed across severity groups.
- Hyperlactataemia showed a strong association with poisoning severity.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric ingestions of liquid laundry detergent capsules can lead to leucocytosis, metabolic acidosis, hyperlactataemia, and base deficit.
- These metabolic disturbances may not always correlate with overall poisoning severity.
- Surfactants, propylene glycol, and ethanol in capsules are potential contributors to toxicity.
Introduction:
The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of acute poisoning with liquid laundry detergent capsules have been comprehensively reported. However, studies of laboratory test results in these exposures are uncommon. This study analyzed the impact of the ingestion of liquid laundry detergent capsules on admission laboratory tests in paediatric patients.
Methods:
This retrospective study was conducted in the clinical toxicology unit of a paediatric poison centre between 2015 and 2021. Paediatric patients (less than 18 years of age) who ingested liquid laundry detergent capsules were included. The relationship between the European Association of Poisons Centers and Clinical Toxicologists/European Commission/International Programme on Chemical Safety Poisoning Severity Score and admission laboratory test results was assessed using Fisher's exact test or analysis of variance.
Results:
A total of 156 patients were included in the study. A considerable proportion of patients presented with leucocytosis, acidosis, hyperlactataemia or base deficit. The median values of white blood cell count (P = 0.042), pH (P = 0.022), and base excess (P = 0.013) were significantly different among the Poisoning Severity Score groups. Hyperlactataemia was strongly associated with the Poisoning Severity Score (P = 0.003).
Discussion:
Leucocytosis is a non-specific marker of severity following ingestion of liquid laundry detergent capsules. The incidence of metabolic acidosis and hyperlactataemia was higher in this study than in previous reports, but these metabolic features were not related to the severity of exposure. The exact mechanisms of toxicity are not yet known, but the high concentration of non-ionic and anionic surfactants, as well as propylene glycol and ethanol, in the capsule are likely contributing factors.
Conclusions:
Pediatric patients who ingest liquid laundry detergent capsules may develop leucocytosis, metabolic acidosis, hyperlactataemia, and a base deficit.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
01:26Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is...
01:26Enhanced Elimination of Poison
Antidotes serve a crucial role in counteracting the effects of poison by inhibiting enzymes responsible for producing harmful drug metabolites. In some cases, these toxic metabolites can be neutralized by endogenous cosubstrates, which are maintained at specific concentrations to prevent interaction with cellular macromolecules and subsequent cell death.
Renal excretion is the...
01:17Antidotes
Specific antidotes operate by inhibiting the enzymes that control biochemical pathways, reducing the production of harmful metabolites.
An example of an antidote is atropine, which counteracts the detrimental effects of cholinesterase inhibitors. It achieves this by deactivating muscarinic receptors,...
01:36Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...