Citation

Romańczuk W. Pediatria Wspolczesna 2002; 4(3): 325-329.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The material of 222 patients treated in the years 1989-2002 due to oral poisoning with caustic agents was analysed. During early fiberoptic endoscopy chemical burns of the upper digestive tract were found in 173 children. There were 64 girls and 109 boys, with a median age of 3.5±0, 8 years (range 1/12 to 14.3 years). 169 patients had a history of accidental caustic ingestion, whereas 4 girls had attempted suicide. Main causes of accidental poisonings turned out to be a taking strong caustic alkali (33.5%), and strong acids - sulfuric or hydrochloric (12.7%). 39 children (19.7%) without clinical symptoms or signs, and without evidence of oropharyngeal injury had chemical oesophageal and/or gastric injury. Despite of an early introduced intensive care 1 girl had died, and in 9 patients (5%), serious complications were developed (2x oesophageal perforations, 1x oesophageal bleeding, 5x oesophageal strictures, 1x antral stricture). The paper presents the principles of management in these cases. Attention has been drawn to necessity of early fibroscopy, which allows to evaluate a precise degree and extent of burn and to employ specialistic conservative treatment.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; alkali; article; caustic agent; Caustic agents; caustic burn; Chemical burns; child; Children; clinical feature; controlled study; digestive system injury; esophagus hemorrhage; esophagus perforation; esophagus stricture; female; fiberscope endoscopy; gastrointestinal tract; human; hydrochloric acid; intensive care; intoxication; major clinical study; male; morbidity; mortality; oropharynx; Panendoscopy; self poisoning; suicide attempt; sulfuric acid; symptomatology