Cloth dye poisoning: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Cloth dyes are chemicals used to color cloth. Cloth dye poisoning occurs when someone swallows large amounts of these substances.
P This article is for information only. Do NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

T Poisonous Ingredient
P The poisonous incredient in cloth dye is corrosive alkali.
P Today it is rare to find this poisonous ingredient in most household cloth dyes.
P Most common household cloth dyes are made from nonpoisonous substances, such as:
- Mild soaps
- Pigments
- Salts
P Although these substances are generally considered not dangerous, they can cause problems if swallowed in large amounts, especially in small children.

T Where Found
P This substance is found in certain dyes used to color clothing or fabric.

T Symptoms
P Cloth dye poisoning can cause symptoms in many parts of the body.
P AIRWAYS AND LUNGS
- Breathing difficulty (from breathing in the dye)
- Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty)
P BLOOD
- Severe change in acid level of blood (pH balance), which leads to damage in all of the body organs
P EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT
- Loss of vision
- Severe pain in the throat
- Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
P GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
- Blood in the stool
- Burns and possible holes (perforations) in the esophagus
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Vomiting blood
P HEART AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
- Collapse
- Low blood pressure that develops rapidly
P SKIN
- Burns
- Holes (necrosis) in the skin or tissues underneath
- Irritation

T Home Care
P Seek medical help right away. Do not make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional.
P 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 person is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.
P If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.
P If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move them to fresh air.

T Before Calling Emergency
P Get the following information:
- Person's age, weight, and condition
- Name of the product (and ingredients and strength, if known)
- Time it was swallowed
- Amount swallowed

T Poison Control
P Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.
P This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States 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.

T What to Expect at the Emergency Room
P The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The person may receive:
- Breathing support, including a tube through the mouth into the lungs and a breathing machine (ventilator)
- Bronchoscopy: camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs
- Chest x-ray
- EKG (heart tracing)
- Endoscopy: camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
- Fluids by IV (through the vein)
- Medicines to treat pain
- Surgical removal of burned skin (skin debridement)
- Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P How well a person does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster the person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery.
P If the poisoning involved a corrosive alkali, extensive damage may occur to the:
- Esophagus
- Kidneys
- Mouth
- Stomach
- Throat
P The outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Poisoning from dye containing an alkali may result in continuing injury to these tissues for weeks or months.
P If the person swallowed a nonpoisonous household dye, recovery is likely.

T Alternative Names
P Dyes - cloth

T References
P Wax PM, Young A. Caustics. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 153.

T Review Date 11/4/2015
P Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Attending Physician at FDR Medical Services/Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Buffalo, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

