Household cleaning products in spray bottles. (iStock)

Child injuries from bleach and other household cleaning products dropped 46 per cent over 17 years in the U.S., but they remain high, researchers have found.

Among children five years old or younger, injuries attributed to cleaning products totalled 11,964 in 2006, down from 22,141 in 1990.

Results of the review, led by Lara McKenzie of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, were published in Monday's issue of the journal Pediatrics.

McKenzie and her colleagues examined a national database of injuries treated at emergency departments. Their study did not address deaths.

Common cleaning products, including ammonia, laundry detergent, drain cleaner and oven cleaner, are often alluring to children because of their colour, scent and brightly coloured packaging, the researchers said.

Bleach accounted for the most injuries from cleaning products, at 37 per cent. Compared with other products, bleach was more likely to be discovered by children outside its original container - in pots and pans, among other things.

"In our study, children 1 to 3 years of age accounted for the largest proportion of cases, which may be a reflection of their unique developmental stages, with emphasis on exploration, and general inquisitiveness about their environment," the researchers wrote.

Poisoning was the most common diagnosis, accounting for 68 per cent of injuries, followed by chemical burns, at nearly 16 per cent.

Cleaning products in spray bottles were the only products associated with an increase in injuries over the study period. The researchers suggested it may be worthwhile to develop educational programs on the use and storage of spray bottles.

The overall decrease in injuries might be explained in part by better poison prevention efforts, including child-proof packaging and public awareness campaigns, they said.

To prevent injury, the American Academy of Pediatrics and others suggest:

• Storing poisonous substances in locked cabinets, out of reach and sight of children.
• Buying products with child-resistant packaging.
• Keeping products in their original containers.
• Properly disposing of leftover or unused products.