Ingestión accidental de agua oxigenada en niños

Abstract

Abstract Introduction. Hydrogen peroxyde is commonly used as local antiseptic. Hyperosmolar dilutions are used for milk conservation due to its antioxidating properties. Material and methods. Agroup of ten pediatric patients refering accidental ingestion of hydrogen peroxyde is presented. Epidemiology, clinical presentation and diagnostic techniques -emphasizing digestive endoscopy- are analysed. Results. In all cases, the access of children to hydrogen peroxyde was possible because of its use in their homes for milk conservation. Symptons were more frequently digestive, with only one patient with respiratory tract damage. Hemorragic gastritis in all cases and different grades of esophageal damage were found in the endoscopic explorations practised. Expectant attitude was adopted in all patients. Despite of data refered in the reviewed literature, extradigestive complications are rare in our group. The physiopathology of the injury is based on the inflammatory response and releasing of free oxygen radicals secondary to reaction of hydrogen peroxyde with tisular cathalasas. Conclusions. Hydrogen peroxyde damage is related to the magnitude of the intake and product concentration. Careful and frequent evaluation of the patient is necessary in order to detect respiratory and cardiocirculatory complications. Esophagogastroscopic exploration should be practised in the first 48 hours if it is enabled by the clinical status of the patient.