A shocking number of children have been hospitalized after eating gel laundry detergent capsules. Doctors warn that parents should not use them and stick with normal powdered laundry detergent instead.
A new study has shown that 62,254 cases were reported of children being exposed to laundry and dishwashing detergent. Researchers analyzed calls to the Poison Control Centers in Virginia from January 2013 to December 2014.
Accidents related to gel laundry detergent capsules account for 60 percent of all reported calls, according to Daily Mail. Studies show that at least one child a day required urgent medical attention after mistaking the gel laundry detergent capsules for sweets.
An increase of 17 percent was noticed in accidents relating to gel laundry detergent capsules in just over two years. Around 45 percent of the calls regarding gel laundry detergent capsules were referred to a medical facility for evaluation.
Similarly, in the 17,230 children who were accidentally poisoned by gel laundry detergent capsules in just a year, 4.4 percent were hospitalized and 67.5 percent experienced a moderate and major health outcome. The capsules usually come in bright colors wrapped in plastic, which makes it easy for young kids to mistake them as food.
The chances of children experiencing serious harm are also much higher when gel laundry detergent capsules were swallowed compared to other types of detergent. Trouble breathing, coma, heart problems and death were experienced by children only when gel laundry detergent capsules were swallowed.
Some cases have reported children going into respiratory distress and violent vomiting after accidentally eating gel laundry detergent capsules. Other children who swallowed the capsules experienced symptoms such as swelling and severe internal burns. If their eyes accidentally came into contact with the capsules, exposure caused severe irritation or temporary loss of vision.
Gel laundry detergent capsules contain a wide array of chemicals and have become popular in recent years for not clogging up the detergent draw. Users claim that gel laundry detergent capsules also eliminate the need to measure the correct amount of washing powder.
As a result, experts have warned families with young children to use traditional detergent instead. In 2013, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also asked manufacturers to create better packaging for gel laundry detergent capsules, according to CNN.
