01.09.2026 14:54
A 14-year-old child in Kahramanmaraş who drank hydrochloric acid from a water bottle was treated at the hospital for burns to his esophagus and stomach. After an endoscopy, the child recovered, and experts issued a warning.
A 14-year-old child in Kahramanmaraş who accidentally drank hydrochloric acid placed in a water bottle recovered his health after an endoscopy performed at the hospital where he was taken due to severe burns in his esophagus and stomach.
Oğuzhan Çelik, a 14-year-old living in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş, drank hydrochloric acid at his workplace, mistaking it for water. The child, who suffered severe chemical damage to his stomach and esophagus, became unwell after a while, and the 112 Emergency Call Center was notified. After initial intervention by health teams, the child was referred to HG Hospital in Kahramanmaraş, where he was taken under treatment. In the endoscopic examination, it was determined that the ingested chemical caused severe damage to the stomach and esophagus. Widespread bleeding foci, ulcers, and deep tissue damage were detected in the stomach, while burns due to the chemical were also observed in the esophagus. After the treatment applied at the hospital, the 14-year-old child regained his health.
"HIS ENDOSCOPY REVEALED WIDESPREAD BURNS AND DEEP ULCERS IN THE STOMACH"
Prof. Dr. Hamza Karabiber, a Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Specialist and Pediatric Health and Diseases Specialist at HG Hospital, emphasized that cleaning products should be kept in their original containers, stating, "Our patient is one who, as a result of accidentally drinking hydrochloric acid placed in the refrigerator at his workplace, suffered severe wounds and burns in his esophagus and stomach. Upon his initial admission, we immediately performed his endoscopy. His endoscopy revealed widespread burns and deep ulcers in the stomach. In such cases, we stop oral feeding. We feed them intravenously for a while. In addition to these measures, we gradually started our patient on oral feeding with the drug treatments we applied. He is currently in very good condition. Unfortunately, we frequently encounter children exposed to such corrosive and caustic substances. This was our third case in the last month. Most recently, last night, we admitted a fourth case. That patient also drank an excessive amount of a syrup containing corrosive and caustic substances. We intervened with that one this morning via endoscopy. It is a situation we frequently encounter. It is an important public health problem for children's health. It is very important that these corrosive and caustic cleaning substances be kept in their original containers and stored in packaging with child-resistant caps. When kept outside their original containers, such as being put in a water bottle as in this patient's case, children can accidentally drink them. In our last two cases, we encountered this problem as a result of accidentally drinking hydrochloric acid placed in water bottles," he said.
"I THOUGHT IT WAS WATER, IT WAS NOT IN ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER"
The patient Oğuzhan Çelik, stating that while working at a barber shop, he opened the refrigerator to take water to customers, said, "I thought it was water; it was not in its original container. I poured it into a paper cup, and a hole formed and it started to drip, so I thought the cup was cracked from before and drank it. I was going to pour it into another cup and give it to the customer. As I drank it, it started burning down my throat. I don't remember what happened after that. I thank our doctor. My health condition is very good," he said.