Liquitabs – a thorough and comprehensive review of the UK national data [Abstract]

Objective: To analyse the number of calls and symptoms observed in enquiries regarding liquitabs to the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS). Discussion: Liquitabs are liquid detergent sachets that are added to your washing machine. There are several types of detergent including cationic, anionic and non-ionic. These liquid detergent sachets are classed as irritant (Xi, R36) according to the EU directive 1999/45/EC. The following table (Table 1) lists the surfactants contained in various types of liquitabs. Methods: UK national data was extracted and analysed for the year end of October 2007 to the end of October 2008. Results: There were 472 enquiries nationally on liquitab exposures with 10 cases (2.1%) exhibiting central nervous system (CNS) features. The age range of those patients exhibiting CNS features were age ≤2yrs. Of these patients the main features listed were drowsiness, hypo-responsiveness, lethargy and falling Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Conclusion: The NPIS currently classes these products as low systemic toxicity. In view of the symptoms reported in 10 cases this year, further investigation may be warranted regarding the potential systemic toxicity of these detergents and whether those at the extremes of age are more susceptible to developing CNS effects