title: Caustic Agent Ingestion by a 1.5-Year-Old Boy.
abstract: We present a case of caustic ingestion by a 1.5-year-old boy. The caustic agent was drain opener which is a strong alkaline substance. Children in Iran and many other countries are still exposed to not "child proof" (child resistant packaging) toxic substance containers. Ingestion of caustic agents may lead to necrosis, perforation, and strictures. Substances that are ingested more frequently are liquid alkali material which causes severe, deep liquefaction necrosis. Common signs and symptoms of caustic agents are vomiting, drooling, refusal to drink, oral burns, stridor, hematemesis, dyspnea, dysphagia and abdominal pain. Even if no oropharyngeal lesion is seen, a significant esophageal injury which can lead to perforation and stricture cannot be ruled out. If abdominal pain or rigidity, substernal, chest or back pain exists, visceral perforation should be considered. The first thing to be checked is airway assessment. A lot of patients should be admitted to intensive care unit, and endoscopic evaluation, surgical intervention, long-term hospitalization, and worsening quality of life or among the complications. Preventive measures especially at the country level and approving proper legislation for obligating the related industries to produce child proof containers for house hold toxic products are the urgent measures to be followed by all of us.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Behdad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gharib
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yaghmaie
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Meisam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharifzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrzad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehdizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rouhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edalatkhah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emergency Ward, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reihaneh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohsenipour
mesh_terms: D002057:Burns, Chemical; D002424:Caustics / Q000506:poisoning*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006795:Household Products / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics
keywords: Caustic ingestion; Endoscopic evaluation; Esophageal burns