From The Straits Times    |


By Anjana Motihar Chandra for Health Xchange, with expert input from the Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group

You can suffer accidental poisoning right in your home because of household cleaning aids, pesticides and even medicines.

Household poisons can cause minor symptoms such as nausea and abdominal discomfort. In extreme cases, they can damage vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, heart and lungs.

Liquids, powders, granules, sprays and aerosols can easily enter the body through the mouth, eyes, nose and skin, and poison you. Children are particularly at risk from these household poisons.

“Children are often attracted to the colourful containers of household cleaners and other harmful products. They can mistake them for something they can eat or drink,” says Dr Kenneth Tan Boon Kiat, Associate Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSEHOLD POISONING

Household products that can be poisonous if wrongfully ingested include the following:

– Cleaners: Dishwashing liquids, detergents, bleach, window cleaners
– Pesticides, used indoor and outdoor to kill cockroaches, ants, rats, lizards, termites and garden insects
– Metal polish, used to polish brass, copper or silver (e.g. jewellery cleaners)
– Disinfectants, used at home or for first aid
– Other products, such as paint thinner, rust remover, batteries, glue

“Medicines can also be toxic if they are consumed by the wrong person. For example, a heart medicine taken by a grandfather can be poisonous for his one-year-old grandchild,” says Dr Tan.

Certain products commonly found in the home can cause mild toxicity symptoms if improperly used (e.g. ingested). These include the following:

– Bath and beauty items, such as shampoo, soap, shaving cream, hair dyes, mouthwash, makeup, nail polish, creams and lotions, perfumes, colognes
– Toiletries, such as soap, shampoo, shaving cream, toothpaste, deodorant
– Stationery items, such as ballpoint pen ink, erasers, crayons
– Other products, such as silica gel, mothballs, room deodoriser

SYMPTOMS OF POISONING BY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS 

What happens if you ingest any of these household poisons? Poisoning symptoms will vary depending on factors such as the type of household poison and its level of toxicity, the level of exposure, the route of exposure (skin, mouth, nose) and the age and weight of the patient. Here are examples of potential poisoning symptoms.

When you eat or drink a poison:
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, choking
Burns to the lips, mouth, throat, stomach and intestines if the substance is caustic (meaning able to burn tissues)

When you inhale a poison:
Coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing
Burns to the nose, throat or lungs if the substance is caustic

When you touch a poison:
Rashes, itching and swelling on the skin
Burns to the skin if the substance is caustic

When poisons get into the eyes:
Blurred vision, redness, irritation and blindness

“Rashes, swelling of the eyes, mouth, throat, and shortness of breath can also occur when you have an allergy to a product,” says Dr Tan. “In extreme cases of accidental poisoning, household poisons can travel to key organs of the body and cause the patient to stop breathing, have fits or lose consciousness.”

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL POISONING

If a family member suffers from accidental poisoning at home and stops breathing, or experiences any other extreme symptoms, immediately call 995 for an ambulance. For mild cases of accidental poisoning at home, you may want to call your GP.

Water, juice or milk may be given to the patient to dilute and reduce the taste of the product. If the household poison has splashed on the patient, washing the poison off should clear the symptoms.

TIPS TO SAFELY HANDLE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

– Do not mix household chemicals such as detergents and bleach together.

– Do not store cleaning products and food in the same cabinet.

– Always store household chemicals away from children’s reach and sight.

– Do not leave household chemicals unattended whilst in use. If you’re interrupted whilst you’re using household chemicals, don’t lose sight of them. If you need to leave the room, take them with you.

– Always store products, including medicines, in their original containers and packaging. Never store detergents or other household chemicals in cups or mineral water bottles.

– Leave the original labels on all products, including medicines.

– Follow the directions and warnings on the label before using the product.

– Never refer to medicines as candy.

– Throw away unused and expired medicines.

– Before using pesticides, remove children’s toys from the area. Keep them away until the pesticide has dried, or as recommended by the label.

– Avoid breathing in the fumes of pesticides and wash your hands immediately after using them.

Reproduced with permission from SingHealth’s Health Xchange, Singapore’s first interactive health and lifestyle resource portal. For more information, visit www.healthxchange.com.sg.

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