Acids kept in the open in empty soft drink and packaged drinking water bottles lead to catastrophic accidents.
According to doctors, if not treated, ingestion of small amount (10ml) can lead to irreversible damage to food pipe and lifelong inability to eat and drink.
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital authorities say 20-25 cases reach the hospital's emergency every year with peak incidence between 1-3 years of age.
"Ingestion of such corrosives burn the food pipe from inside and cause ulcers in it. These ulcers bleed and perforate, which is often life threatening. They cause ulcers in the stomach which at times can be very severe," Paediatric Gastroenterologist Dr Nishant Wadhwa said.
If consumed in small amount, even after healing, it can lead to the narrowing of the food pipe and patients may have difficulty in swallowing, he added.
Children swallowing such caustic can have respiratory distress, vomiting, dysphagia, drooling, pain in abdomen and other symptoms, doctors said.
Local skin burns can be seen because of spillage of the corrosive agent. Lips, mouth and oropharynx may be damaged by caustic liquids, but lack of visible damage in the mouth does not preclude injury to esophagus and stomach, doctors said.
Doctors thus advise that such substances should be kept in secure places out of reach of children.
