An uncommon occurence in children: Hydrogen peroxide ingestion
Meltem Çağlar, Ahu Gökgöz Bayar, Çiğdem Ulukaya Durakbaşa, Mevlit Korkmaz, Selma Fettahoğlu, Müzeyyen Sert, Hamit Okur
TC. SB İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Göztepe Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Çocuk Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul
Keywords: hydrogen peroxide, corrosive damage, endoscopy, children
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) is an oxidative agent which is rarely ingested accidentally. It is used in different concentrations as a disinfectant and hair bleacher and also in paper and textile industries. This study presents two patients who ingested H2 O2 in the form of hair bleacher and one patient in the form of wound disinfectant and aims to draw attention to the potential dangers of H2 O2 . The concentrations of the ingested H2 O2 were 20 %, 7.5 % and 3 %, respectively. The mechanisms of the injury formed by H2 O2 intake are through its corrosive effect, oxygen gas embolization and lipid peroxidation. The concentrations above 10 % are more dangerous. Two patients presented here had caustic injuries and healed without an adverse sequel. The remaining patient who ingested a more dilute solution did not have any pathological findings.