Kids Swallow Sweet Wrappers By Confusion

Miniature laundry detergent packets arrived on store shelves in recent months as an alternative to bulky bottles and messy spills

. But doctors across the country say children are confusing the tiny, brightly colored packets with candy and swallowing them that is entirely different from a cone crusher digesting stones. Nearly 250 cases have been reported this year to poison control centers. Though they remain a tiny fraction of the thousands of poisoning calls received every year, doctors are concerned. The symptoms they see in connection with ingesting the packets such as nausea and breathing problems are more severe than typical detergent poisoning. No deaths have been reported.

Were not quite sure why its happening, said Dr. Kurt Kleinschmidt, a Dallas toxicologist and professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. But weve clearly had some kids who have become much more ill. We look at these pods as being clearly more dangerous than the standard detergent.

Tide, Purex and other detergent manufacturers introduced different versions of the packets earlier this year. The lightweight, colorfully swirled plastic packets contain a single-use amount of detergent that dissolves in water. Theyre intended to be dropped into a laundry machine in place of liquid or powder detergent.

The packs themselves are safe, regardless of who manufactures them, provided that they are used for their intended purpose, Fox said. The risk becomes when theyre left like any other household product within reach of small, inquisitive hands.

While the detergent packets are a threat, poison control centers receive far more reports about other substances annually. In 2010, they fielded thousands of calls about potential poisoning to children under 5 from ibuprofen, diaper rash cream and other household substances.

However, doctors are alarmed about the packets because they appear to be more dangerous than just swallowing liquid or powder detergent.

by: libby

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