Citation

Mierzwa G, Zielińska H, Wika L, Czerwionka-Szaflarska M. Pediatria Wspolczesna 2004; 6(2): 127-131.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Burns of the upper part of digestive tract are caused by thermal agents (boiling liquids) or chemical substance (acids, alcali). Burns appear more often in small children as a result of accidental or mistaken drinking, swallowing the caustic substance or scald one. There are cases of taking them to suicide attempt hardly ever and only at the older age. The main aim of the work is analysis of reasons and consequences of burns of the upper part of digestive tract in children and youth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Documents of 36 patients at age from 11 month til 15 years old were retrospectively analysed. They were diagnosed and treatmented because of burns of upper part of digestive tract from January 1996 til May 2003 in order to find etiologic agents of the burns. There were taken into cosideration information given from the interview. The range and degree of burns were analysed on the basis of early fiberoptic endoscopy of the upper digestive tract. The nature of changes was classified according to Zargar and co-workers.

RESULTS: At the work was proved that mostly burns of upper part of digestive tract happened in children before finishing 3 years old. Girls were dominated in the intended poisoning, on the contrary to the period of early childhood where more often boys are exposed to the accidental poisoning. Children from the urban environment were exposed more often for poisonings. They were living in bad living conditions with incorrect protection from the carers. Among children mostly occur chemical burns of the upper part of digestive tract by means of inorganic alkali. Thermal burns of stomach and oesophagus accured considerably rarely and concerned children at the group of age from 3 til 7 years old.

CONCLUSIONS: We stated in our analysis more often occuring burns of oesophagus and stronger advancing acc. Zargar and co-workers classification after consumption of strong alkali than acids. The most analysed patients with burns of oesophagus after consumption strong alkali revealed also injured mucous membrane of stomach.

Language: pl

Keywords

adolescent; human; Children; burn; child; accident; Burns; Youth; suicide attempt; interview; intoxication; article; urban area; disease classification; retrospective study; clinical article; drinking; caregiver; medical documentation; alkali; esophagus burn; data analysis; caustic agent; digestive system injury; fiberscope endoscopy; acid; chemical burn; scald; stomach injury; swallowing; The upper part of digestive tract