Is chloroxylenol nephrotoxic like phenol? A study of patients with DETTOL poisoning

Chloroxylenol, a phenolic derivative commonly used as a household disinfectant, has similar, although lesser, toxic manifestations in comparison to phenol when ingested. The main objective of this study was to determine if chloroxylenol is nephrotoxic like phenol by studying 121 patients with DETTOL (4.8% chloroxylenol, pine oil, isopropyl alcohol) poisoning. Three patients (2.5%) developed renal impairment as evidenced by raised plasma urea and creatinine concentrations following ingestion of 200 to 500 ml of DETTOL. Two of these patients also had serious complications, including aspiration leading to pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome, from which 1 died. The etiology of the renal impairment is likely a direct toxic effect of chloroxylenol on the kidneys and associated transient hypotension. Fortunately, renal impairment only appears to be a problem when relatively large amounts of DETTOL are ingested.