Welcome to this month’s What’s Your Diagnosis Challenge!
But before we begin, check to see if you got the previous case on Diagnosis and Management of Acute Mesenteric Ischemia in the Emergency Department correct.
Case Presentation: Alkali Exposure: An Evidence-Based Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment
A 3-year-old boy is brought to the ED by his parents after swallowing a “drain cleaner”…
- The parents say that they had stored drain cleaner in an old soda bottle with a twist-off cap, and the boy mistook it for a beverage.
- Soon after ingestion, while at home, the patient vomited once and started crying. The parents said they washed the boy’s face and mouth with cold water at home and gave him water to drink before bringing him to the ED.
- His vital signs are: temperature, 37.2°C; heart rate, 100 beats/min; blood pressure, 96/67 mm Hg; and respiratory rate, 20 breaths/min.
- The boy is currently asymptomatic, and you wonder: since he looks so well, is observation the best approach? If so, for how long?
Make your best guess, and check back next month to find out the correct answer!
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