J Clinical Research and Reports Copy rights@ Volkan Sarper Erikci MD et.al. Auctores Publishing LLC – Volume 11(2)-248 www.auctoresonline.org ISSN: 2690-1919 Page 1 of 3 Pediatric Caustic Ingestion: A Review Article Volkan Sarper Erikci MD * * İzmir Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Surgery, İzmir Tepecik Health and Research Center, Sağlık Bilimleri University, İzmir- TURKEY. Corresponding Author: Volkan Sarper Erikci, Kazım Dirik Mah. Mustafa Kemal Cad. Hakkıbey apt. No: 45 D.10 35100 Bornova-İzmir, Turkey. Received date: April 11, 2022; Accepted date: April 22, 2022; Published date: May 03, 2022 Citation: Volkan S. Erikci. (2022). Pediatric Caustic Ingestion: A Review Article. J Clinical Research and Reports, 11(2); DOI:10.31579/2690- 1919/248 Copyright: © 2022, Volkan Sarper Erikci. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract Caustic ingestion injuries represent a significant morbidity and even mortality producing aerodigestive tract burns. Regarded as a major public health issue, caustic injuries may be produced by various chemicals including alkali and acid agents, phenols and oxidising substances such as peroxides or chlorine bleaches. Public awareness including preventive measures is important in avoiding these injuries. The consequences of caustic ingestion may pose great challenge for both the patients, their faimilies together with clinicians dealing with these children. In this review article it is aimed to discuss the clinical presentations, treatment modalities of these children under the light of relevant literature. Key words: caustic ingestion; children; treatment; pediatric Introduction Although preventive measures have made significant impact on reducing caustic injuries in many countries, caustic ingestion continues to be a serious medical and social issue [1]. It has been stated that half to 80% of the injuries are seen in children and these are typically accidental in nature [2, 3]. On the other hand ingestion of caustic materials by adults and teenagers is often suicidal and frequently life threatening. Although the true prevalance of caustic injuries is not known accurately, this clinical entity continues to be a major public health issue. In this review article it is aimed to give information about this subject and discuss the presentation, short and long-term sequale together with treatment modalities of children with caustic ingestion under the light of relevant literature. Epidemiology As the lye became commercially available for household use in the late 19 th and early 20 th centruies, with an increase in number, injuries due to caustic ingestion were found to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide [4]. It has been suggested that half to 80% of the injuries are seen in the children [2]. As previously reported, there is a bimodal age distribution in children with caustic ingestion [5]. Victims are generally preschool children [2, 3]. There are risk factors for caustic ingestion in children. These are namely male gender, attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, lower status of parental education, young maternal age, lack of parental supervision and living in rural areas [6-11]. Most of these children are injured by unintentional and accidental ingestion of caustic substances. On the other hand mechanism of caustic injuries in older group of children and adults differ compared to preschool age children. Intentional ingestions as part of suicide attempts have been reported in these late teenagers and adults and consequently higher complication rates due to more ingestion of caustic substance have been reported [5]. Esophageal injury may be seen in 20-40% of patients following ingestion of caustic substances [12, 13]. Alkali substances with pH value of >11.5 and acid substances with pH value of <2 may cause burns to cheeks, mouth, oropharynx, esophagus and stomach as well as airway [14]. Most common agents responsible for caustic injuries are depicted in table 1 [17]. It has generally been stated that deep burns due to strong alkalis result in strictures followed by acids [7, 8, 15]. Type Caustic agent Chemical formula Strong alkalis Sodium hydroxide Potassium hydroxide Lithium hydroxide Calcium hydroxide Trisodium phosphate Disodium carbonate NaOH KOH LiOH Ca(OH)2 Na3PO4 Na2CO3 Strong acids Acetic acid Citric acid Phosphoric acid C2H4O2 C6H8O7 H3PO4 Open Access Review Article Journal of Clinical Research and Reports Volkan Sarper Erikci MD * AUCTORES Globalize your Research