1. To determine if the risk of aspiration is increased in 'Dettol' (4.8% chloroxylenol, pine oil and isopropyl alcohol) poisoning and the factors that may be responsible, a study was made of 89 patients and 89 matched control subjects with other forms of poisoning admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong. 2. Aspiration was more common in patients with Dettol poisoning (8% vs 3%, P = 0.16). There were more control subjects with drowsiness at presentation (54% vs 24%, P < 0.0001), but the use of gastric lavage (88% vs 64%, P < 0.001) and the occurrence of vomiting (62% vs 17%, P < 0.0001) were more common in patients with Dettol poisoning. 3. Our findings suggest that Dettol poisoning may be associated with an increased risk of aspiration. This increase in risk may be related to the use of gastric lavage and the common occurrence of vomiting in patients with Dettol poisoning.