Phototherapies for the management of immediate caustic injuries to a child's mouth: A case report.

Abstract

Caustic soda ingestion is a serious medical and social concern as it may result in damage to the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, and mouth. The treatment for it is highly varying and controversial, since patients may manifest a combination of several symptoms or even none at all. Thus, this paper aimed at reporting a case in which a 2-year-old male Caucasian presenting oral caustic injuries (ulcerative lesions throughout the mouth) was treated by using a combination of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) besides conventional supportive care. The treatment proposed resulted in an important clinical improvement of the child's oral condition within a few days, allowing the reintroduction of oral feeding and then hospital discharge. According to this case report, the combination of PMBT and aPDT used concomitantly with conventional supportive care may be useful for improving the oral condition of children suffering from oral injuries induced by caustic soda.