Open AccessCaustic Ingestion in Children
Author(s) -
Di Nardo Giovanni,
Betalli Pietro,
Illiceto Maria Teresa,
Giulia Giannotti,
Martemucci Luigi,
Caruso Flora,
Lisi Gabriele,
Romano Giusy,
Villa Maria Pia,
Ziparo Chiara,
Pensabene Licia,
Vassallo Francesca,
Quitadamo Paolo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0000000000002685
Subject(s) - medicine , ingestion , asymptomatic , accidental , esophageal stricture , surgery , esophagus , physics , acoustics
Objectives: Despite the efforts to reduce the exposure to corrosive household products, caustic ingestion in children is currently a significant medical problem. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the clinical consequences of caustic ingestion and to identify prognostic factors that could concur in driving both diagnostic and therapeutic management. Methods: All consecutive children referred for ingestion of a caustic substance from June 2017 to June 2018 were enrolled. Medical records, laboratory and endoscopic findings were reviewed and analyzed. Results: We enrolled 44 children with caustic ingestion. Alkaline agents were ingested by 26 of 44 (59.1%) patients, whereas acid agents were ingested by 18 of 44 patients (40.9%). Alkaline rather than acid agents were associated with a worse endoscopic score ( r : 0.45) and a higher probability of early esophageal stricture occurrence ( r : 0.38). The specific risk of the presence of severe esophageal lesions rose progressively with increasing number of symptoms whereas no esophageal injury was found in asymptomatic patients. Conclusions: Our data suggest that endoscopic evaluation is mandatory in symptomatic patients to direct therapeutic management, but it could be avoided in asymptomatic patients after accidental ingestion, particularly if the ingestion is only suspected and patients have no oropharyngeal burns.