Toxicovigilance of accidents with household chemical products in the Czech Republic.

1 Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the numbers, severity and causes of accidents, occurring in the households due to the cleaning products. Among the groups of potentially dangerous cleaning products, the highest proportion of accidents was caused by cleaning products containing sodium hypochloride (37 %), descalers containing acids (29 %) and dishwasher tablets (25 %). A lower percentage of inquiries appeared due to hydroxides containing drain cleaning products (7 %). In the year 2009, there were 251 inquiries to the Toxicological Information Centre due to cleaning products in defined categories studied. Among them, there were 133 children and 118 adult patients, who ingested cleaning product accidentally (86%) or for suicidal purposes (3%); inhaled (9%) or had an eye contact with the product (2%). There were 23% children and 27% adults hospitalized; the children most frequently due to accidental ingestion of hydroxides (92%), the adults due to the inhalation of irritant vapors (64%). Among them 14% children (86% due to the ingestion of cleaning products containing hydroxides) have been examined using the endoscopy (in the total anesthesia), in addition to 5% adults. The study has shown that the most common cause of the accidents in children is the distraction of the adults; nevertheless, the..