Steam iron cleaner

• Alternative names
• Definition
• Poisonous Ingredient
• Where Found
• Symptoms

• Home Treatment
• Before Calling Emergency
• Poison Control, or a local emergency number
• What to expect at the emergency room
• Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names   

Definition    Return to top

Poisoning from an ingestion of a steam iron cleaner.

Poisonous Ingredient    Return to top

• Chelating agents

Where Found    Return to top

• Various steam iron cleaner products

Symptoms    Return to top

• Body as a whole
  • Severe pain in the mouth
  • Collapse
• Respiratory
  • Breathing difficulty due to throat swelling
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Severe pain in the throat
• Gastrointestinal
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
• Heart and blood vessels
  • Rapid drop in blood pressure

Home Treatment    Return to top

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING.

If on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If swallowed, drink water or milk IMMEDIATELY. If the patient is vomiting, keep giving water or milk.

Before Calling Emergency    Return to top

Determine the following:

• The patient's age, weight, and condition
• The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• The time it was swallowed
• The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number    Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room    Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Give fluids.
• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)    Return to top

Most chelating agents are relatively non-toxic. Recovery is likely.