A five year evaluation of acute exposures to phenol disinfectant (26%)

A five year retrospective review of all exposures to a high concentration phenol disinfectant (Creolin Disinfectant 26% phenol) reported to a regional poison center located 96 cases, with 16 cases lost to follow up. There were 60 oral-only exposures, 7 dermal-only exposures and 12 oral/dermal exposure. One patient was an inhalation exposure. Fifty-two cases (65%) were evaluated in a hospital. Eleven patients with oral exposures (14%) experienced rapid CNS depression, but no seizures occurred. Vomiting, coughing, and stridor was noted in 14, 7 and 4 patients respectively. Burns were noted in 17 of 72 (24%) patients with oral exposure and 5 of 19 (26%) with dermal exposure. Seventeen patients underwent endoscopy. Tissue sloughing was noted in one case. All other burns were first degree. No cardiovascular complications occurred. Twenty-eight patients (35%) were followed at home via telephone with one episode of vomiting and one episode of dermal irritation occurring. CNS toxicity from exposure to a high concentration phenol containing cleaning product appears to be rapid in onset. The absence of serious toxicity and major chemical burns in this series does not eliminate concern with the corrosive and systemic risks of phenol poisoning.