DELAYED UPPER AIRWAY-OBSTRUCTION - A LIFE-THREATENING COMPLICATION OFDETTOL POISONING

Dettol liquid is a commonly used household disinfectant and although i t is labelled nonpoisonous, serious respiratory complications have bee n reported in up to 8% of cases of Dettol ingestion. We report a case in which the delayed onset of upper airway obstruction was treated wit h emergency awake, fibreoptic guided nasotracheal intubation. Based on information available in published cases and on our own experience, w e suggest that patients who have ingested large volumes of Dettol, hav e a history of vomiting or unprotected lavage, or have evidence of ong oing oropharyngeal inflammation, are at high risk of this complication . They should be closely observed for at least 48 h after ingestion an d the facilities and staff required for emergency airway management sh ould be immediately available.