A 4-year-old female ingested unknown quantity of liquid drain cleaner. Conscious, breathing adequately, and with skin burns around the mouth. You should:

A 4-year-old female ingested unknown quantity of liquid drain cleaner. Conscious, breathing adequately, and with skin burns around the mouth. You should:

• A. Monitor airway and give oxygen
• B. Administer laxatives
• C. Induce vomiting
• D. Provide only supportive care without airway monitoring

Answer: (A)

Caustic ingestions, especially in children, can cause rapid swelling and burns of the airway. The top priority is to protect the airway and ensure adequate oxygenation, even if the patient initially seems stable. Giving oxygen helps maintain perfusion if airway obstruction develops. Inducing vomiting is unsafe here because it can re-expose the esophagus to the caustic substance and increase the risk of aspiration. Laxatives won’t help and could delay proper care. Providing only basic supportive care without watching the airway could miss evolving airway compromise, so ongoing airway assessment and readiness to support or secure the airway are essential.

Caustic ingestions, especially in children, can cause rapid swelling and burns of the airway. The top priority is to protect the airway and ensure adequate oxygenation, even if the patient initially seems stable. Giving oxygen helps maintain perfusion if airway obstruction develops. Inducing vomiting is unsafe here because it can re-expose the esophagus to the caustic substance and increase the risk of aspiration. Laxatives won’t help and could delay proper care. Providing only basic supportive care without watching the airway could miss evolving airway compromise, so ongoing airway assessment and readiness to support or secure the airway are essential.