What should I do if I accidentally swallow detergent

Dishwashing liquid is a common daily necessity, and there are many types. So if you accidentally swallow dishwashing liquid, you need to understand whether it is a more toxic type. Especially if you experience symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after taking it, you must seek medical attention immediately.

1. There are many types of detergent products, generally called detergent, dishwashing liquid, dishwashing detergent, vegetable detergent, etc. There are two main types of products based on their ingredients: one is synthetic detergent with sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate as a surfactant, and the other is natural plant oil-based detergent with polyglucosidase, glucamide, natural fatty alcohol, etc. as surfactants. Most detergents are low-toxic or slightly toxic chemicals and generally do not cause much harm to the human body. However, accidental ingestion of these highly acidic detergents can easily cause chemical burns to the esophagus and stomach, which are difficult to treat. When symptoms and signs such as severe burning pain in the mouth, throat, behind the sternum and abdomen, and large amounts of brown matter and mucosal fragments in the vomitus occur, you should be alert to strong acid detergent poisoning, immediately take milk, soy milk, egg white and peanut oil orally, and go to the hospital for emergency treatment as soon as possible. Avoid inducing vomiting, gastric lavage or enema.

2. Due to the different detergents ingested, the rescue methods are also different. Laundry detergent has the widest use, but is also very easy to be accidentally ingested, especially by children out of curiosity. The main ingredients of laundry detergent are lauryl sulfate, sodium polyphosphate and fluorescent agent. After taking it, people may experience chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, vomiting blood and blood in the stool, as well as pain in the mouth and throat. If you accidentally ingest laundry detergent, you should induce vomiting as soon as possible. After vomiting, you can take milk, egg white, soy milk, or thick rice soup orally, and go to the hospital for treatment immediately.

3. Secondly, detergents used to wash dishes, vegetables and fruits are also easily accidentally drunk. Their main ingredients are sodium carbonate and sodium polyphosphate. Sodium silicate and some surfactants are more alkaline than laundry detergent. Because of its strong alkaline nature, it is more destructive to the esophagus and stomach, and the consequences are more serious. After accidentally ingesting it, you should immediately take about 200 ml of milk or yogurt, fruit juice, etc., and at the same time give a small amount of cooking oil to relieve irritation to the mucous membrane, and go to the hospital for emergency treatment. Generally speaking, vomiting and gastric lavage are strictly prohibited.

4. As for toilet cleaners used for cleaning the bathroom, accidental ingestion is extremely rare and most cases are intentional. Since these detergents are more toxic, the consequences are more serious. Among these detergents, liquid ones are mostly prepared with hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid; the main component of powdered ones is aminosulfonic acid, which is easily soluble in water and is also strongly acidic.

Experts remind that in order to prevent the occurrence of household poisoning incidents, household detergents should be kept out of the reach of children to prevent them from accidentally drinking them.