Corrosive oesophagitis in Nigeria: clinical spectrums and implications

Ingested corrosive agents produce oropharyngeal and gastro-oesophageal injuries ranging from minor burns to severe necrosis, depending on the agent, amount, concentration and duration of exposure. A 10-year (1990-1999) study of 23 corrosive oesophagitis patients depicting the clinical spectrums and implications was done. There were 17 (74%) males and 6 (26%) females, with an average age of 16 years: 35% were in the first decade of life and 39% in the second, with an average occurrence of three new cases a year. The main corrosive agents were alkali (NaOH) 48% and sulphuric acid 39%. The factors that predisposed to corrosive ingestion included: accidental 43%; suicidal 35%; homicidal 13% and 'therapy' 9%. Of the accidental cases 60% were seen in children; 75% of suicide attempts were in the second decade of life. Eleven (48%) patients developed complications, namely laryngeal stenosis 4% and oesophageal strictures 44%. The hospital stay ranged from 2-4 weeks. Awareness of the dangers of corrosive ingestion should be extensively publicized. Government regulations permitting the sales and procurement of corrosive substances should be strictly enforced and, if not yet in place, should be enacted without further delay.