Severe burns from alkali drain cleaner

D’Cruz, Rachel A; La Hei, Erik R; Holland, Andrew J A

doi:10.5694/mja12.10995

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To the Editor: Alkali drain cleaner has previously been reported to cause oral, oesophageal and cutaneous burns.1-4 The risk of these cleaners causing full thickness cutaneous burns in children needs to be emphasised.

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: andrew.holland@health.nsw.gov.au

Acknowledgements:

We gratefully acknowledge the guidance, support, experience and enthusiasm of John G Harvey and for his assistance in reviewing the manuscript.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Al-Qattan MM, Pitkanen J. Delayed primary excision and grafting of full thickness alkali burns of the hand and forearm. Burns 2001; 27: 398-400.
2. Janousek P, Jurovcík M, Grabec P, Kabelka Z. Corrosive oesophagitis in children following ingestion of sodium hydroxide granules — a case report. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2005; 69: 1257-1260.
3. Pitkanen J, Al-Qattan MM. Epidemiology of domestic chemical burns in Saudi Arabia. Burns 2001; 27: 376-378.
4. Yanturali S, Yaka E, Ersoy G. Chemical injury to the tongue following contact with sodium hydroxide drain cleaner. Vet Hum Toxicol 2004; 46: 319-321.

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