ABSTRACT
Treatment of caustic ingestion in children is a difficult and controversial problem which has not yet to be resolved. Here we report the evolution of fourteen children with esophageal injury after caustic ingestion that were treated with steroids at high-doses, nasogastric intubation and antibiotics. An early esophagoscopy was performed in all patients. Four patients developed esophageal strictures, three of which were mild and subsequent dilatation was successful. Only one patient was referred to surgery. We think that although it cannot be established, the use of high-dose of steroids and nasogastric intubation may be helpful for children with caustic esophagitis. We conclude that early endoscopy is useful to evaluate the severity of the lesions and to establish the necessity for treatment.
