Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turk Pediatri Arsivi, cilt.41, sa.1, ss.24-30, 2006 (Scopus, TRDizin)
Objective: The ingestion of caustic substances by children is still a serious medical dilemma. The literature evaluating familial and social factors and psychological outcome of caustic ingestions is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors in the risk of accidental caustic ingestions and the psychosocial results of the accident in a group of victims. Material and Method: The study group consisted of a subgroup (n=102) of all patients with the history of caustic material ingestion who had been admitted to the emergency department in the last 5 years. This subgroup included was children who had suspected esophagial burns and evaluated endoscopically under general anesthesia in the pediatric surgery department. The parents of these children were asked to fill a questionaire prepared by the research group. When the parents were illiterate (n=6) it was filled by the doctors according to the answers provided by the parents. Results: Sixty-seven of the patients were boys and 35 girls. Their ages at the time of the study varied between 1 and 8 and the mean age was 5.5 years. The highest amount of accidents occurred in summer (41%) followed by spring (25%), autumn (21%) and winter (13%). The ingested materials were frequently grease cleaners (66%), limescale removers (8%) and bleaches (6%). The rest of the patients had ingested miscellaneous chemicals (20%) (Battery acid, dishwashing liquid, potassium permanganate, acid added to tobacco). The caustic material had been given by other people (mother, grandmother) in five cases. Therest of the children had taken the material by themselves. Conclusions: Risk ratio of accident is higher in boys living in families with low socioeconomic and sociocultural levels. Inappropriate storage of cleaning materials by the family is another confounding factor. The accidents ocur mostly in summer when children feel more thirsty. Educating thise families and informing the media and the doctors are very important in the prevention of these accidents. The patients with corrosive burns require psychiatric treatment frequently.