title: [Ingestion of caustic substances in children: 3 years of experience].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no clear consensus on the management of accidental ingestion of caustic substances in paediatrics. The aim of this study was to determine the profile of the paediatric population treated due to caustic ingestion in a Healthcare Centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study was conducted on patients treated for the ingestion of caustic substances in our hospital during the period 2008-2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12 patients were treated, with a mean age of 3.8 years (1-13 years), with the majority males (58.8%). An alkaline product was ingested by 58.3%, and an acid by 41.6%. The majority (58.3%) did not refer to symptoms and the remainder referred to vomiting (33.3%), odynophagia (16.6%), haematemesis (8.3%), hyper-salivation (8.3%) and shortness of breath (8.3%). Oral cavity lesions were observed in 75% of cases. All, except one, were accidental. An endoscopy was performed on all of them (100%) between 12 and 24hours post-ingestion, with pathological findings in 41.6%. In the group that ingested an alkali, 2 (16.6%) patients had lesions, one a grade 2B and one a grade 3 oesophagitis. In the acid ingestion group, 4 (33.3%) patients had lesions; one grade 1-2A oesophagitis, two acute non-erosive gastritis, and one acute haemorrhagic gastritis. A follow-up endoscopy was performed depending on the previous endoscopic findings. Only two patients presented with complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emphasis is placed on the endoscopic evaluation in the first 24hours of deliberate asymptomatic ingestions, as well as a strict follow-up in those that ingested acids, due to delayed associated lesions.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Losada M
authors.affiliation: Sección de Digestivo y Nutrición Infantil, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Infantil Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España. Electronic address: mariarubiomurillo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubio M
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España.
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blanca G
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez A
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002424:Caustics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005756:Gastritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics
keywords: Acid; Alkali; Caustic Ingestion; Estenosis esofágica y gástrica; Ingesta cáustica; Oesophageal and gastric stenosis; Ácido; Álcalis