Abstract
We report a case of serious injury to the oral mucosa resulting from the ingestion of a chemical agent.The severity of chemical injury to tissue depends on several factors, including the amount of agent involved, theduration of exposure, and the location of the affected site. It is important to immediately identify the cause ofchemical burns and to administer treatment quickly as damage will continue even after the chemical agent hasbeen removed.
A 32-year-old man with schizophrenia swallowed sodium hydroxide in an attempt to commit suicide and wasbrought to our emergency room. An oral examination showed bilateral erosion of the buccal mucosa, soft palate, tongue, and lips. A tracheotomy was performed because of airway stenosis. The patient was instructed to garglewith azulene sodium sulfonate and to apply ointment on his lips. After 2 weeks, his condition improved and he wasdischarged from the hospital. Scar revision and skin grafting were performed as the patient was unable to movehis tongue for 5 months because of scar contracture of the sublingual region.
