Abstract
BackgroundDisastrous effects and lifelong complications, ranging from respiratory and gastrointestinal burns to death can result from caustic soda ingestion. Accidental and non-accidental ingestions occur in different age groups. However, it is very troubling to find ingestion of caustic soda a very common occurrence among children below 5 years since they do not have the developmental level required to independently weigh up risks and are also under parental and societal protections. This study was therefore planned to investigate the ingestions of caustic soda by these children for purposes of proposing measures to curb the problem.MethodsDescriptive survey was employed for this study. A 14-item, semi-structure questionnaire was purposively issued to 57 parents/guardians whose wards had ingested caustic soda. Data was analysed with SPSS V.20.ResultsTwenty-seven (47.4 %) children got access to the soda at storage, 1 (1.86 %) was administered accidentally by a sibling while 29 (50.9 %) ingested during soap preparation. In respect of the former, the majority got access because it was stored in soft drink and water bottles in their parents/guardians rooms or kitchen. For the later, the children got access to the left-over soda because the soap-makers failed to adhere to good storage and disposal practices.ConclusionStorage of caustic soda in soft drink and water bottles in accessible places, and training of children to drink directly from bottles influence caustic soda ingestion in children under five. Non-compliance to good practices of storage and disposal of caustic soda during soap preparation increases exposure and access of children to caustic soda ingestion.
Highlights
Disastrous effects and lifelong complications, ranging from respiratory and gastrointestinal burns to death can result from caustic soda ingestion
In Ghana, a sixfold increase in the number of children presenting with caustic soda ingestion to Okomfo Anokye hospital was noted between 2009 and 2010 [5]. This phenomenon is disturbing because potentially catastrophic presentation and lifelong complications result from caustic ingestion [6, 7]
Factors associated with caustic soda ingestion According to the respondents 27 (47.4 %) of the children got access to the soda at storage, 29 (50.9 %) during soap preparation process while 1 (1.86 %) was administered accidentally by a 10 year old sibling
Summary
Disastrous effects and lifelong complications, ranging from respiratory and gastrointestinal burns to death can result from caustic soda ingestion. In the developing countries such as Ghana where traditional soap makers employed local soap making methods, the use of caustic soda, and This phenomenon is disturbing because potentially catastrophic presentation and lifelong complications result from caustic ingestion [6, 7]. Alkaline ingestion penetrates the layers of the oesophagus and other tissues that come into contact, resulting in increased permeability due to breakdown of epithelial barrier, and causing severe liquefactive necrosis, saponification of fats, emulsification of cellular membranes and solubilisation of proteins. These reactions result in burn injuries following ingestion of caustic soda. Evidence suggests that approximately 80 % of caustic ingestions in the liquid phase occur in children younger than 5 years [11, 12] with those between 2 and 3 years being the commonest victims
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