Unintentional Ingestion of 60% Hydrogen Peroxide by a Six‐Year‐Old Child

Abstract

Ingestion of industrial-strength hydrogen peroxide is rare. Fatal outcomes have been reported with solutions of 35%. We report a six-year-old boy who unintentionally ingested an unknown quantity of hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 60%. Upon admission to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit he was intubated and received ventilatory assistance for 48h. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed soon after admission and laparoscopy was performed 24h later. Recovery was satisfactory, and the patient was discharged on day 18 with no evidence of pathological sequelae.

Cerebral air gas embolism from concentrated hydrogen peroxide ingestion

“…At concentrations of 30% or higher, ingestion of even small amounts of peroxide can be potentially fatal. In previous reports ingestion of concentrated hydrogen peroxide has resulted in the following complications: hemorrhagic gastritis (11,12), respiratory collapse (11,13); pneumomediastinum (14); seizures (9, 11); portal venous gas (12,15); air in the right ventricle of the heart (15,16); and death (15)(16)(17). Cerebral air gas embolism (CAGE), alone or in combination with other complications, may also develop after ingestion of a small amount of concentrated hydrogen peroxide (4-9,11).…”

Necroulcerative hemorrhagic gastritis in a cat secondary to the administration of 3% hydrogen peroxide as an emetic agent

“…While adverse effects can be seen with administration of 3% hydrogen peroxide, more significant adverse effects such as hemorrhagic gastritis are seen at higher concentrations . In the human medical literature, ingestion of hydrogen peroxide resulting in adverse events is most commonly due to accidental ingestion of the product, or less commonly, intentional misuse of the product . Hemorrhagic gastritis secondary to the corrosive effects on the gastric mucosa has been reported in human medical literature .…”

“…Further studies are needed to determine the prevalence of this reaction in the feline population. In human medicine, the use of conservative therapy such as proton pump inhibitors, antacids, anti‐emetics, and intravenous fluid therapy has been used to treat cases of hemorrhagic gastritis secondary to hydrogen peroxide . It is reasonable to expect that cats would likely respond favorably to similar conservative therapy.…”

An uncommon occurence in children: Hydrogen peroxide ingestion

“…Eğer konsantrasyon % 10'un üzerindeyse hasarlanma olasılığı artar. Yüzde 35 üzerindeki konsantrasyonların alımı ise ciddi hasarlanma veya ölümle sonuçlanabilir (3,6,8,9,11) . Morbidite ve mortalite özellikle oksijenin hızla serbestleşmesine bağlı organ perforasyonları ve gaz embolisine bağlı görülür.…”