Detergent capsule bursts in child's hand (4) - the consequences are shocking

Perth (Australia) - It was only a brief moment of carelessness on the part of a mother from Western Australia that had devastating consequences for her four-year-old child! After the girl had been playing around with a detergent pod, the capsule suddenly burst and seriously injured the four-year-old's eyes.

A child in Australia had to undergo several operations after a detergent capsule (pictured) burst in his hands. (symbolic image)
A child in Australia had to undergo several operations after a detergent capsule (pictured) burst in his hands. (symbolic image)  © 123rf/mousefamily

It was an everyday situation that parents know only too well: While mother Jodi was doing the laundry, her daughter Luca wanted to be close to her and help out.

When the 34-year-old Australian wanted to fill the washing machine, she gave her child a detergent pod to hold. What happened next was to put mother and child in a fatal situation: "When I turned around, she had already bitten into it and it had gotten into her eyes."

Unfortunately, Luca made matters worse when, according to the Daily Star, she rubbed her eyes in fright, causing the washing solution to get in even more.

Jodi grabbed the four-year-old and put her in the shower to rinse off the detergent as quickly as possible. "She was screaming and upset. I noticed that she wasn't calming down, she was still hysterical," recalls the Australian.

Concerned, she dialed the poison control center to ask for help. "They told me to go to the hospital."

Girl visually impaired after detergent capsule incident

The four-year-old had to be operated on three times and still suffers from eye problems. (symbolic image)
The four-year-old had to be operated on three times and still suffers from eye problems. (symbolic image)  © 123rf/kdshutterman

At the clinic, the doctors discovered a defect in Luca's left eye and acid burns. The little girl had to undergo a total of three operations, including having a membrane glued to the surface of her eye to help it heal.

After 16 days, Luca was finally allowed to leave the hospital. However, the child must be prepared to suffer from redness around her eyes for the next six to twelve months. She has also had a slight visual impairment since the incident. "It could have been much worse," says mother Jodi. The incident was "traumatic" for her.

"She often helps me with the laundry, but doesn't usually play with the pods," she continues. The Australian also blames the manufacturer: "They look good and smell good. They are attractive to children."

The mother hopes that the warnings on the packaging of the capsules will soon be formulated even more clearly.