[Caustic esophagitis in children: about 86 cases]

ABSTRACT

Caustic ingestion is a relatively frequent accident in infants. The most redoubtable complication is the oesophageal stenosis which requires a multidisciplinary management. The aim of this work is to study epidemiological, clinic, endoscopic, therapeutic aspects and out comes of caustic esophagitis. We report a retrospective study about 86 cases of caustic esophagitis registered in the paediatric service of Ibn El Jazzar's hospital of Kairouan during the period between 1[st] January 1996 and 31[st] December 2006. The hospital prevalence was 0.3per cent. The median age was 4 years. The most incriminated caustic products were bleach and soda. Clinic examination was more often poor. Among the 86 patients, 41 had a serious caustic esophagitis, all of them received great doses of methyl-prednisolone. 12 patients developed a stenosis. Pneumatic dilatation was done for 9 patients with good results and two patients underwent surgery. However, prevention represents the only way to minimize the dramatic consequences of caustic ingestion on the patient him self, his surroundings and the society