title: Hemorrhagic gastritis and gas emboli after ingesting 3% hydrogen peroxide.
abstract: It is well known that ingestion of low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide is usually nontoxic; this does not produce gas embolism and is only a mild irritant to the gastrointestinal tract. We report the case of a 25-year-old woman who ingested one mouthful of 3% hydrogen peroxide and presented to the Emergency Department with persistent vomiting and epigastric pain. The radiographic evaluation found portal venous gas emboli. In addition, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed 2 h after ingestion revealed diffuse hemorrhagic gastritis. She showed a decrease of hemoglobin concentration and a positive test result for occult blood in stool. She was observed for 14 days and discharged. Follow-up endoscopy showed erythematous gastritis. This case illustrates that a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide can cause portal venous gas embolism and severe gastrointestinal injuries even if only a small amount is ingested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Byeong Jo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Yong Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000209:etiology*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide