Lifespan's A - Z Health Information Library

Most common household cloth dyes are made from non-toxic pigments, salts, and mild soaps. While these substances are generally considered not dangerous, they can cause problems if swallowed in large amounts, especially in small children.

• Corrosive alkali

However, today it is rare to find this toxic ingredient in most household cloth dyes.

• Certain dyes to color cloth or fabric

• Airways and lungs
  • Breathing difficulty (from inhalation)
  • Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty)
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Severe pain in the throat
  • Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
  • Loss of vision
• Gastrointestinal
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Burns and possible holes (perforation)of the esophagus
  • Vomiting blood
  • Blood in the stool
• Heart and blood
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure) develops rapidly
  • Collapse
• Skin
  • Irritation
  • Burns
  • Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues
• Blood
  • Severe change in acid level of blood (pH balance), which leads to damage in all of the body organs

If you are concerned about a detergent ingestion, seek emergency medical care immediately. The standard procedure is to dilute with water or milk unless the patient is unconscious or experiencing convulsions. Do not induce vomiting.

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See National Poison Control center.

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The patient may receive:

• Fluids by IV
• Medicines to treat symptoms and pain
• Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
• Oxygen
• Breathing tube
• Bronchoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs
• Irrigation (washing of the skin) -- perhaps every few hours for several days
• Skin debridment (surgical removal of burned skin)

How well a patient does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment was received. The faster a patient gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

If the poisoning involved a corrosive alkali, extensive damage to the mouth, throat, esophagus, kidneys, and stomach may occur. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Death is possible.

If the poisoning involved a non-toxic household dye, recovery is expected.