Results Two hundred nine patients were evaluated for possible caustic ingestion. Only 163 medical charts were available for review. Initial signs and symptoms ranged from none to drooling and vomiting and second-degree oral cavity burns. In our experience, hair relaxer ingestion makes up a significant proportion of all children admitted to the hospital for caustic ingestion. No significant esophageal injury was associated with hair relaxer ingestion, suggesting that endoscopy may not be necessary in these patients.
Alternative management is suggested.
We believe that patients who ingest hair relaxer should be admitted to the hospital for observation if parents are thought to be unreliable, and should undergo endoscopy if they cannot tolerate oral intake. Asymptomatic patients may be cared for as outpatients if they demonstrate adequate oral intake. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Accepted for publication February 1, 1999. Presented as a poster at a meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Palm Beach, Fla, May 12-13, 1998.