Purpose
Detergent pod-related aerodigestive/ocular
chemical burns/ingestion
poisoning injuries are a group of
injuries of concern to parents/guardians of young children as well as oral healthcare professionals. Each year
detergent pod injuries result in thousands of emergency department (ED) visits and significant oral, eye, airway, and digestive
trauma. The purpose of this study was to investigate trends in
detergent pod injuries resulting in ED visits in children ages >0 to <18 years from 2016-2020.Methods This cross-sectional study used data collected from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). A secondary data analysis was performed on the NEISS data from 2016-2020 for children ages >0 to <18 years.
Injuries were identified as
detergent pod-related oral-aerodigestive/ingestion
poisonings,
detergent pod-related ocular
injuries, or other product-related
injuries among children. Time trends and demographic characteristics were analysed by age, sex, and race.Results There were an estimated 13,176
detergent pod-related oral-aerodigestive
injuries/ingestion
poisonings and 8,654
detergent pod-related ocular
injuries with ED visits during 2016 - 2020. In adjusted logistic regression, white children were more likely to have oral-aerodigestive
injuries/ingestion
poisonings than black children (p=0.0006). Time trend (p=0.4358), and sex (p=0.3905) failed to reach significance. Children, ages 5 to<18 years, were less likely to have ED visits for oral-aerodigestive
injuries/ingestion
poisonings, or any
detergent pod-related injury than younger children. Children, ages 3 to ≤5 years, were more likely to have
detergent pod-related ocular
injuries than younger or older children.Conclusion Time trends for
detergent-pod related
injuries requiring ED visits remained unchanged from 2016-2020 for oral-aerodigestive
injuries/ingestion
poisonings. Given the significant health risks associated with
detergent pods and the fact that the
injuries have not declined, there is a need for improved parent/guardian education and practices in safeguarding
detergent pods from children. Dental hygienists are well positioned to provide anticipatory guidance on this safety issue.