sofidexFor patientsAre you a clinician? Clinical site
Ask Sofi
Listen
Patient SupportEmergencies & Reporting
Log inSign up

Warning-sign checks

Bubble bath soap poisoning: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for:

    • Severe or worsening breathing difficulty
    • Blue or gray coloring around the lips
    • Collapse, seizure, or inability to wake the person
    • Choking or inability to swallow
    • Rapidly worsening symptoms after a large or unknown exposure

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek prompt medical care if there is repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, worsening throat pain, persistent eye symptoms after rinsing, unusual drowsiness, or signs of dehydration.

    Supervise young children in the bath and empty bathwater promptly.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine medical follow-up if digestive symptoms do not settle, skin irritation continues, or pain with urination persists after the bubble bath product has been stopped.

    A clinician can look for other causes, such as dermatitis or infection, without assuming the soap is responsible.

The article also says

A person with no symptoms or only brief mild stomach upset may not need an in-person visit after a poison center has reviewed the exposure.

Follow the poison specialist’s instructions and observe for new symptoms during the period they recommend.

To help prevent another exposure, keep bubble bath products in their original containers and store them out of children’s sight and reach.

Close the cap after each use.

Never transfer bath products into cups, beverage bottles, or food containers.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Bubble bath soap poisoning. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.