title: Caustic ingestion in adults--epidemiology and prevention.
abstract: A 16 year retrospective review identified 179 patients hospitalized for ingestion of caustic products in Aarhus County, Denmark. Seventy-five were adults over 15 years of age and residents of Aarhus County. The average annual incidence rate of hospitalization for caustic injury in adults was 1/100,000 with an incidence of esophageal burns of 0.8/100,000/y. Of the adults 61% attempted suicide: of these 61% were women. The annual incidence rate for adult women attempting suicide had an increasing trend (p = 0.048). Changes of the incidence rate for unintentional ingestions and for male suicide attempts were not significant. More than half of the suicide attempts were by patients with a history of a psychiatric illness. Of the caustics ingested by adults 94% were liquids. Acids accounted for 55% of the ingested products. Suicidal ingestion of hydrochloric acid was fatal in 6 of 12 adults. The inavailability of liquid caustics in the homes of patients at suicidal risk might prevent impulsive ingestion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Municipal Hospital of Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Christesen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002424:Caustics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics