Laundry starch

Alternative names

Cooking starch; Starch ingestion

Definition

Poisoning from an ingestion of starch.

Poisonous Ingredient

• Starch
  

Where Found

• Starch is found in various cosmetic products
  
• Laundry starch is found in various laundry products
  
• Cooking starch
  

Cooking starch and laundry starch are different substances. There are numerous brand names for both. This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

For cooking starch:

• Gastrointestinal
  o May cause an intestinal obstruction
  o May cause abdominal pain
  

For laundry starch:

• Body as a whole
  o Fever
  o Twitching of the facial muscles
  o Twitching of the arms, hands, legs, and/or feet
  o Convulsions
  o Significantly decreased urine output (or none)
  o Collapse
  
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  o Jaundice (eyes become yellow)
  
• Skin
  o Blisters
  o Bluish skin, lips, or fingernails
  o Sloughing of skin
  o Other skin manifestations
  o Yellow skin
  
• Gastrointestinal
  o Vomiting- mucous, blood
  o Diarrhea- mucous, blood
  
• Heart and blood vessels
  o Low blood pressure
  
• Nervous system
  o Drowsiness
  o Coma
  

Home Treatment

• If on the skin:
  o Remove by washing the area.
  
• If swallowed:
  o Seek emergency medical care immediately.
  o Do not induce vomiting.
  

Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following:

• The patient's age, weight, and condition
  
• The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)