Prof. Dr. Feryal Gün Soysal explained what you need to know about the damage caused by drinking corrosive substances.
In recent years, corrosive substances such as poorly packaged bleach, drain cleaner, and degreaser, which have been sold openly, especially in developing countries, are generally kept in places easily accessible to children. As a result, children mistaking these substances for water or fruit juice and drinking them cause serious complications such as esophageal burns, stomach burns, aspiration pneumonia, and even death.
The most common corrosive substances; Taking substances such as degreaser, descaler, sink opener, bleach, vitriol, salt spirit, zefiran, marble polish, battery water, hair dye for accident or suicide purposes may cause serious damage to the esophagus and gastrointestinal system.
What are the symptoms?
Damage due to ingestion of corrosive substances may be symptomless. Pain, burns around the mouth and lips, edema, hypersalivation, agitation, tachycardia, respiratory distress, shock, and even risk of death may occur.
Emergency intervention includes airway, oxygenation, stabilization, physical examination (hypersalivation, subcutaneous examination). emphysema) and examination of the taken substance can be performed. Forensic report, indirect laryngoscopic examination (stridor), AC radiography (pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema) may be applied. Oral feeding is stopped. Ampicillin-sulbactam treatment, steroid (2 mg/kg), ranitidine (4-6 mg/kg) (antacid), esophagoscopy (24-48 hours) (flexible/rigid), (damage detection, +/- NG) can be performed. .
How is it treated?
According to the endoscopy result, oral nutrition is started in mild burns and the patient is discharged and an esophageal passage X-ray is requested after 3 weeks. In severe burns, a feeding catheter is placed and the patient is fed through the tube until he or she is able to take it orally. After oral feeding, the patient is discharged and a passage radiograph is taken to look for strictures in the 3rd week.
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