UAE: 5 children ingesting drain cleaner and batteries, confined in hospital

UAE: 5 children ingesting drain cleaner and batteries, confined in hospital

A rise in incidents of children eating chemicals and small electrical devices has been observed at a UAE hospital. According to Emirates Health Services (EHS), Al Qassimi Women's and Children's Hospital hospitalized more than 50 children in a single year, with some of them suffering significant digestive system impairment. Within ten days, five cases were received, including two children who drank drain-cleaning detergents. One child's esophagus was severely damaged, while the other's stomach and esophagus were permanently damaged. Two more children were taken to the hospital after each ingesting batteries and more than five magnets. Batteries, magnets, nails, and chicken bones are the most common objects eaten by children, according to the hospital, and experts have cautioned that they might cause major harm. Also because the pediatric gastroenterology section only accepts patients that require an endoscopic intervention, the number of cases may be higher. According to the hospital administration, in some circumstances, endoscopic intervention is neither possible nor risky, particularly if the swallowed object has gone deep into an area that is unreachable by an endoscope, or if the child consumed chemicals more than 48 to 72 hours before admission. Yasser Kamal Rashid, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the hospital, advised parents to keep an eye on their children at all times and to keep dangerous substances out of reach. He went on to say that the repercussions might be negative and permanent. The hospital conducted research last month to raise awareness about parental supervision after noticing a weekly spike in instances. The study focused on teaching parents about the possibility of these accidents and urging them to keep harmful things out of the reach of youngsters, according to EHS officials. KMB/Expat Media

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