Published online Sep 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i25.8872
Peer-review started: February 18, 2022
First decision: June 15, 2022
Revised: June 24, 2022
Accepted: July 20, 2022
Article in press: July 20, 2022
Published online: September 6, 2022
Processing time: 188 Days and 22.7 Hours
The use of household disinfectants increased significantly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. But there are a few clinical case reports on acute chlorine inhalation poisoning caused by improper mixing of household disinfectants and toilet cleaning solutions.
We summarized the clinical data of patients admitted to our center during the COVID-19 pandemic with acute chlorine inhalation poisoning caused by improper mixing of disinfectants and toilet cleaning solutions to help improve a clinician's ability to treat future cases.
To help improve a clinician's ability. Seven patients with acute chlorine inhalation poisoning caused by improper mixing of disinfectants and toilet cleaning solutions admitted to the National Army Poisoning Treatment Center from March 2020 to September 2021.
Retrospective descriptive analysis was performed on the clinical data of all patients.
Post poisoning, patients may present with symptoms of breathlessness, dyspnea, headache, nausea, cough, pharyngeal discomfort, fatigue, nausea, and depression. Out of seven patients, one had type 1 respiratory failure, and five had bilateral lung effusions or inflammatory changes on chest computed tomography. Six patients received humidified oxygen therapy, and one was treated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation. All patients were treated with glucocorticoids.
Improper mixing of house disinfectants causes damage to the respiratory system due to chlorine poisoning. Corticosteroids may improve lung exudation, and early symptomatic supportive treatment should be performed.
More case studies are required for improved generalizability and understanding of the clinical characteristics and treatment of chlorine poisoning caused by disinfectant mixing.