Patient T.K (2 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City) suffered an esophagic burns due to mistakenly drinking water hyacinth powder - a dangerous daily accident that parents need to be especially vigilant about.
The accident occurred about 3 hours before the child was taken to the hospital. When admitted to the hospital, the child was in a state of fever, burned the entire mouth, unable to eat, and showed signs of infection with high inflammatory markers.
Doctors have given fluids, mucosal protection drugs, stomach acid reducers and antibiotics to control infections. The child underwent an esophagogastric - stomach - duodenal endoscopy to assess the extent of damage, the results showed a second-degree esophageal burns.
Immediately afterwards, the child was placed with a stomach sonde under endoscopy to feed, helping to reduce damage when food passed through the burned area. After a week of active treatment, the child was able to eat again and was discharged in stable condition.
According to statistics from the Department of Gastroenterology - Children's Hospital 2, each year the unit receives about 250 - 300 cases of children swallowing foreign objects or drinking chemicals by mistake.
In the first quarter of this year alone, 26 cases were successfully handled. Doctors warn that gastrointestinal accidents in young children can happen at any time, especially during the upcoming summer vacation, when children are off school, often alert, curious and less supervised by adults. Common accidents include: mistakenly drinking cleaning chemicals, swallowing batteries, hammocks, small toys or other strange objects.
When children accidentally drink eroding chemicals, parents need to immediately take their children to the nearest medical facility. Absolutely do not cause vomiting, do not give children neutralizing substances or diluting chemicals with water or milk, do not use activated charcoal and do not arbitrarily place a stomach sonde - this should only be done under the guidance of a specialist and endoscopist. Incorrect operations can cause more serious damage, even endangering your life.
