Life Science Journal 2012;9(4) http://www.lifesciencesite.com http://www.lifesciencesite.com lifesciencej@gmail.com 2054 Extent of Injury of Gastrointestinal tract due to accidental ingestion of chemicals among children at Bandar Abbass Children Hospital 2009-2011 Sakineh Fallahi 1 , Seyed M. V. Hosseini 2 , Soghra Fallahi 3 , Morteza Salimi 4 , Ali Akbar Hesam 5 , Seydeh Hamideh Hoseini 6 1. MS.c, Department of Nusring, Member of Fertility and Infertility Health Research Center Hormozgan, Member of University of Medical Science Students Research Committee, Bandar Abbas, Iran 2. Departmen of Surgery, Division of Paediatric Surgery, Shiraz University of Medical Scienes, , Member of Fertility and Infertility Health Research Center, Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran 3. MS.c Department of Physiology, Member of Fertility and Infertility Health Research Center Hormozgan, Member of University of Medical Science Students Research Committee, Bandar Abbas, Iran 4. BS.c in Nusring School, Member of Fertility and Infertility Health Research Center Hormozgan, Member of University of Medical Science Students Research Committee, Bandar Abbas, Iran 5. MS.c student in clinical psychology, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Member of University of Medical Science Students Research Committee, Bandar Abbas, Iran 6. BS.c in Nusring, Member of Fertility and Infertility Health Research Center Hormozgan, Member of University of Medical Science Students Research Committee, Bandar Abbas, Iran Hamidehalsadat@yahoo.com Abstract: Accidental Ingestion of burning material could lead to serious injury in different part of the gastrointestinal tract, mostly esophagus as it has the most contact with the swallowed material. The best diagnostic method is Endoscopy and Esophagoscopy. This study intended to assess the severity and extent of burning, its chronic complications and recommend appropriate preventive method of such catastrophe, occurring mostly in children 1-16 years of age. This cross-sectional study was carried out between March 2009 and February 2011, in which 78 cases of children who had accidentally ingested burning material and undergone therapy were under research. The type of ingestion material, the extent of esophagus injury, number of chest and abdomen radiographies, extent of exposure to X-ray, the applied therapeutic method and the long term complications were recorded and then assessed. 37.2% of the 78 children were girls, 62.8% boys 71.8% urban, 28.2% rural. 47 cases of children were poisoned with stronger materials and 29% with higher ones. Clinical signs included vomiting, oral irritation, bloody discharge, abdominal pain, coughing, loss of consciousness and respiratory distress respectively. 45% of the cases had normal degree of burning, 20% G1 burning, 12.5% G2a burning, ½% G2b burning, 6.2% G3a and 7.5% G3a burning. 11 children undergone surgery, 7 were diagnosed with esophagostenosis in a year follow-up and the extent of exposure to X-ray for each chest and abdomen graphy was 1/. This study concluded that accidental ingestion of chemical detergent by children lead to esophagus injury with different degree and extents. The complications are not limited to a period of time and might be life-long. Preventing would be a comprehensive solution in this regard which can be emphasized by ministry of health, media, manufacturers and sellers of chemical detergents be supplied in secure and tightly-capped containers with advise tags for families. Comical material must be sold in specific shop under supervision and limitation for stronger detergents. [Sakineh Fallahi, Seyed M. V. Hosseini, Soghra Fallahi, Morteza Salimi, Ali Akbar Hesam, Seydeh Hamidh Hoseini. Extent of Injury of Gastrointestinal tract due to accidental ingestion of chemicals among children at Bandar Abbass Children Hospital 2009-2011. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):2054-2058] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 307 Keywords: Endoscopy, Esophagoscopy, Burning material, Accidental ingestion, Esophagostenosis, X-ray 1. Introduction The chemical ingestion by children include acidic and alkaline material such as detergent, all type of pipe openers, paint solvent surface cleansers, bleach and dishwasher liquid. Esophagus is the most vulnerable part of digestive tract which is injured following accidental ingestion of chemicals due to early and lasting contact with the swallowed materials. Its subtle mucosa and thin wall along with the lack of strong Immune mechanisms make it even more susceptible to get injured (1-4). Esophagus injuries due to the alkaline ingestion are more common in southern urban areas of Iran where air conditioner are cleaned by such material. Once these chemicals are ingested accidentally by children, esophagostenosis is developed which is not treated easily. Dilatation using stent is the fundamental therapy for stenosis (5-9). Incidence of esophagus injury due to the ingestion of chemicals is 15.8 in 10000(10). During the acute phase of poisoning by chemicals there exists