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Epidemiology and prevention of caustic ingestion in children
1Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus Municipal Hospital, Denmark.
Insights
Caustic ingestion in children, particularly those under five, led to hospitalizations and esophageal burns. Accidental ingestions decreased over time, possibly due to safer household products and child-proof caps.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Public Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Caustic ingestion is a significant cause of pediatric hospitalizations.
- Accidental ingestion poses a serious risk to young children, leading to severe esophageal injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence and trends of caustic ingestion and esophageal burns in children.
- To identify risk factors and propose preventive measures for caustic ingestion accidents.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 102 pediatric hospital admissions for caustic ingestion between 1976 and 1991 in Aarhus, Denmark.
- Calculation of annual incidence rates for hospitalization and esophageal burns.
Main Results:
- The overall annual incidence of hospitalization for caustic ingestion was 10.8 per 100,000 children.
- Esophageal burns occurred at a rate of 5.0 per 100,000 annually, with 94% of cases involving children under 5 years old.
- A significant decrease in esophageal burn incidence was observed in children aged 0-4 years during the study period.
Conclusions:
- While accidental caustic ingestions in young children have decreased, vigilance is still required.
- Potential contributing factors to the decline include changes in household product formulations and the implementation of child-resistant packaging.
- Public health initiatives, including parental education on safe storage and handling of caustic substances, are recommended to further minimize accidents.
Abstract:
A total of 102 children less than 16 years of age admitted for caustic ingestion in the period 1976-1991 were registered. The annual incidence rate of hospitalization was 10.8:100,000 for the city of Aarhus, Denmark. Esophageal burns occurred with a frequency of 5.0:100,000 per year. Ninety-four percent of the children were less than 5 years old. For this age group, the incidence rates of admission and esophageal burns were 34.6:100,000 and 15.8:100,000, respectively. All ingestions were accidental. The incidence rates of esophageal burns in children 0-4 years old (p = 0.019) decreased significantly during the period studied. The cause of this decrease is not clear, but a change in the spectrum of household products and the gradual introduction of child-proof caps are possible explanations. To minimize the frequency of accidents, an information campaign directed specifically at parents of toddlers is recommended. Information material should stress that caustics should always be inaccessible to children and stored separately, and should never be decanted.