Toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers

Definition

Poisoning from an exposure to a toilet bowl cleaner or a toilet bowl deodorizer.

Poisonous Ingredient

• Phenol
  
• Detergents
  
• Isopropyl alcohol
  

Where Found

• Various toilet bowl cleaners, including automatic ones
  

Symptoms

• Respiratory
  o Breathing difficulty (from inhalation)
  o Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)
  
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  o Severe pain in the throat
  o Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
  o Loss of vision
  
• Gastrointestinal
  o Severe Abdominal pain
  o Vomiting
  o burns of the esophagus (food pipe)
  o Vomiting blood
  o Blood in the stool
  
• Heart and blood vessels
  o Hypotension (low blood pressure) develops rapidly
  o Collapse
  
• Skin
  o Irritation
  o Burn
  o Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues
  
• Blood
  o Severe change in pH (too much or too little acid in the blood, which leads to damage in all of the body organs)
  

Home Treatment
Seek emergency medical care immediately. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. If on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. If swallowed, drink water or milk IMMEDIATELY. If the patient is vomiting, keep giving water or milk. For inhalation poisoning, remove the patient to fresh air.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• The patient's age, weight, and condition
  
• The name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
  
• The time it was swallowed
  
• The amount swallowed
  

Poison Control, or a local emergency number
See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.