Ingestion of caustics in children, repercussions at the oral level: case report

Abstract

Introduction:The ingestion of caustic substances represents one of the main causes of home accidents and constitutes a serious medical problem for the pediatric patient due to the severe complications and consequences that they leave behind. It is important to develop preventive programs, since it is an issue that is not usually given the importance it deserves. Burns can be caused by the ingestion of acids or alkalis, and the form of presentation of these products is directly related to the damage caused. When they are ingested in liquid form, it is the esophagus that suffers great consequences; on the other hand, when ingestion occurs through contact with solid forms, the mucous membranes of the oral cavity are the ones that present the greatest complication. Clinical case presentation: A case of a 4-year-old girl is presented. She attended the Humberto Notti Pediatric Hospital as an emergency for having ingested caustic soda in the form of pearls that, on contact with the humidity of the mucous membranes, produced large burns on the inner face of the lips, gums, ventral face of tongue, commissures, etc. The burns produced adhesions and scars that brought functional and aesthetic complications. Emergency treatment and multiple surgeries were performed to restore tongue mobility, and improve mouth opening and lip mobility.Conclusions: Interdisciplinary work is essential and it is imperative to forward the prevention of these home-type accidents.