Abstract

BRICENO, M et al. Ingestión de cáusticos: Revisión de la casuística en el hospital de niños “J. M. de los Ríos” durante los años 1998 a 2008. Un problema de salud pública. Gen [online]. 2010, vol.64, n.4, pp.302-305. ISSN 0016-3503.

The ingestion of caustic substances is one of the most relevant accidents in childhood because of its incidence, seriousness and diffi culty to treat. Purpose: Determining the incidence of caustics ingestion and its complication in pediatric patients during a 10-year term at Hospital de Niños J. M. de los Ríos, Caracas Venezuela. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cross-sectioned descriptive study performed at Hospital de Niños J. M. de los Ríos between 1998 and 2008. Variables: age, sex, endoscopic fi ndings and complications. Results: Out of 142 children who had ingested caustics, 89/142 (62.6%) are male, and preschool children was the prevailing group, 74/142 (52.1%), followed by nursing children, 44/142 (31%). 2.8 years was the mean age (ranging from 10 months through 10 years). 84.5% was reported with esophagitis (7% with Grade IIIB, 10.5% with IIIA, 13% with IIB, 21.1% with IIA, 33% staged as I). 77.4% developed stenosis and 7% showed perforation. Conclusion: Caustics ingestion is a common accident in underdeveloped countries. Children are susceptible to suffer such because of their natural curiosity and the usage of transferring household cleaners in attractive recipients. The necessity of law-making on the safety of such products is proposed.

Keywords : Caustics ingestion; Zargar; stenosis; children; endoscopy.