Pyloric Stricture in Children Following Ingestion of Corrosive Substance from Recycled Water and Beverage Bottles: Report of Two Cases and Review of Literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pyloric stricture in children after ingestion of corrosive substances is a serious public health issue bordering on poor parental supervision, inappropriate storage of harmful corrosives in the home, and poor socioeconomic status. It is worthy of note that in the two reported cases where the corrosives were acids the pylorus was affected sparing the esophagus and stomach. OBJECTIVE: To highlight the danger of use of recycled water and beverage bottles for storage of corrosive substances in the home and to indicate that surgical bypass of the pylorus is often inevitable when stricture occurs. CASE SUMMARIES: We report 2 patients aged 3 years and 7 months, respectively, who drank corrosive substances stored in recycled water and beverage bottles. In both patients, pyloric stricture occurred after 6 weeks with severe systemic complications. Diagnosis was established by upper GI-contrast radiography, and the treatment with gastro-jejunostomy was satisfactory in both cases. CONCLUSION: Pyloric stricture from ingestion of corrosive substance inappropriately stored in the home is a cause of significant morbidity and potential mortality. Bypass surgery is satisfactory but efforts at prevention are highly recommended.