LA INGESTIÓN DE CÁUSTICOS EN EL NIÑO, UN PROBLEMA DE SALUD PÚBLICA.

The caustic ingestion in the pediatric population is a serious problem because produce a progressive and devastating injury to the esophagus and stomach. methods: Retrospective and descriptive study of 421 patients with age from 2 months to 14 years who ingested caustic between 1.992 to 2.008 evaluated at the hospital universitario de maracaibo. results: The 60.09 per cent were pre-school and 62.23 per cent were male. The substance type alkali was swallowed by 90.73 per cent of cases and the caustics were stored in its original packaging by 3.8% and decanted in 96.2 per cent of cases. Intake was accidental source in 99.53 per cent. All patients showed some symptoms as oropharyngeal lesions, vomiting and drooling. Endoscopy evaluation was performed by 89.31% of cases and revealed gastrointestinal tract injuries in 60.63%. Patients with grade 3 Esophagitis and esophageal stricture were admitted in the dilatation program with a good success in 35.91% of them. conclusions: The caustic ingestion is a common and serious problem, mostly from accidental origin, mainly affects children under 6 years and the alkali is the principal agent involved. The Esophagoscopy is the ideal mean for evaluate these patients. The esophageal dilatations are moderately successful. The best treatment is the prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]