Inadvertent caustic ingestion in children in a tertiary health facility in Enugu: critical review of three cases and current literature

Abstract

Inadvertent ingestion of corrosive substances occurs frequently in children, especially in the younger age group. This could be attributed to their immaturity and the developmental stage of motor and sensory skills. The most common corrosive agent in our environment is caustic soda, which is used in soap making. This substance is usually stored in unlabelled containers without childproof safety caps. Adequate health education and effective legislation on the production, handling, and storage of corrosive substances will help mitigate the dangers of accidental ingestion in children. We present a report of three cases of unintentional caustic ingestion among children seen in Enugu and discuss the relevant literature.