The effect of steroid treatment on corrosive oesophageal burns in children.

A retrospective study was done on corrosive oesophageal burns to ascertain the preventive effect of corticosteroids on stricture development. Within the last 12 years 351 children were admitted to our medical centre with a history of corrosive agent ingestion. In 235 of these the diagnosis of oesophageal burn was confirmed by means of oesophagoscopy. Children admitted within the first 48 hours received steroid, antibiotic and fluid therapy while fluid and antibiotics were given, if needed, in the rest. Forty-six of the children were lost to follow-up. The type of corrosive agent, the admission period, the degree of the burn and the stricture development were used as parameters. Stricture development was found statistically significant in late admitted patients vs. early admissions. This retrospective study suggests the effectiveness of corticosteroid treatment in preventing the stricture development.