The hazards of automatic-dishwasher detergent

Automatic-dishwasher detergent is a common household substance which is extremely corrosive and potentially fatal if ingested. In this report, we discuss the implications of the ingestion of automatic-dishwasher detergent in 18 children over a three-year period. Ten of the 18 children gained access to the automatic-dishwasher detergent from the dishwasher on the completion of the washing-cycle, while the remainder ingested the detergent directly from the packet. There was a poor correlation between the presenting signs and symptoms and the subsequent endoscopic finding in the 14 children who underwent endoscopy.