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After a recent trail of accidents, doctors are warning parents against laundry and dishwasher detergent liquitabs and calling for childproof packaging.

In just a span of 18 months, five separate cases of toddlers swallowing the capsules have been reported where the youngest child was 10 months old and the kids were under the age of 2.  Apparently, all the children, while being admitted to the hospital in Glasgow were emitting high pitched wheeze (stridor) indicative of a blockage in the airway.

According to authors, all liquitabs contain strong alkaline cleaning agents, which can destroy tissues and cause severe inflammation. This can result in airway blockage and lung damage, which can even be fatal.

While the eldest of the five children was given antibiotics and steroids for treatment, the other four children required intubation for several days to treat swelling and ulceration. One child also needed surgery.

Although in all five cases, all the children were able to recover, the accidents had a catastrophic impact on the children as well their families, the authors pointed out.

Statistics show that these five are not the only such cases reported. Apparently, the National Poisoning Information Service received 647 phone calls and almost 4000 online searches about the eating/swallowing of the contents of liquid detergent capsules, from healthcare professionals last year, Medical Xpress reported.

The authors noted that most liquitabs do not come in childproof containers and to comply or to not comply with standards of safety packaging is currently voluntary.

"To help prevent future potentially life threatening injuries, improved safety warnings and childproof packaging are urgently required," they said, and added that they have already written to manufacturers alerting them of the issue.

Emphasizing that parents have an important part to play in taking safety measures for the children: "Dishwasher and washing machine liquitabs are now a common finding in most homes, but unfortunately, seem very attractive to young children due to their bright colouring and soft sweetie-like texture. We feel that the increasing trend in liquid detergent capsule ingestion poses a significant public health issue," they add.