MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Steam iron cleaner

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Steam iron cleaner

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Care Before Calling Emergency Poison Control What to Expect at the Emergency Room Outlook (Prognosis)

Alternative Names

Chelating agents

Definition Return to top

Poisoning from an ingestion of a steam iron cleaner.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Chelating agents
Sodium hydroxide (dilute)

Where Found Return to top

Various steam iron cleaner products

Symptoms Return to top

The most common symptoms are nausea, possible vomiting, and mild stomach irritation. The following symptoms may occur in rare cases:

Lungs and airways
- Breathing difficulty due to throat swelling
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Severe pain in the throat
- Severe pain in the mouth
Gastrointestinal
- Severe abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
Heart and blood
- Rapid drop in blood pressure
- Collapse

Home Care Return to top

DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional. Seek immediate medical help.

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

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

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 Return to top

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.

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

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

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

Update Date: 5/15/2006

Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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