%0 Journal Article
%T Epidemiology of Caustic Esophagitis and Factors Associated with the Severity of Endoscopic Lesions in the City of Bouake in Ivory Coast
%A Amadou Kone
%A Akoun Fabrice Ake
%A Mamadou Diakite
%A Olivier Claver Koffi
%A Oury Diallo Ahmadou
%A Jean-Michel Brou
%A Adama Diallo
%A Jean-Baptiste Okon
%J Open Journal of Gastroenterology
%P 299-310
%@ 2163-9469
%D 2025
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojgas.2025.156028
%X <b>Objective:</b> To identify the clinical and endoscopic characteristics of caustic esophageal burns and the factors associated with the severity of lesions in a semi-rural setting. <b>Patients and </b><b>methods</b><b>:</b> This was a retrospective descriptive and analytical study based on gastroscopy reports from various digestive endoscopy centers in the city of Bouak&#233;, covering the period from January 2018 to December 2022. All patients who underwent gastroscopy within 7 days following caustic ingestion were included. <b>Results:</b> Of the 7491 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies performed during the study period, only 39 cases were included, yielding a prevalence of 0.52%. The study population comprised 23 men and 16 women, with a sex ratio of 1.44. The mean age was 23.2 years (range: 1 to 83 years). A total of 28.21% of the patients came from rural areas. The ingested caustic substance was alkaline in 53.85% of cases. Suicidal intent was noted in 58.97% of cases. Clinical manifestations were observed in 69.23% of patients, with odynophagia being the most common symptom (70.37%). Mucosal abnormalities were found in 64.10% of patients. According to the Zargar classification, 38.46% of the observed lesions were severe. Analytical analysis revealed that living outside the city and ingestion of an acidic substance were significantly associated with the severity of the lesions. <b>Conclusion:</b> Caustic ingestion in the semi-rural population of Bouak&#233; primarily affected young individuals in a suicidal context. ENT symptoms were relatively frequent, and endoscopy revealed a high proportion of severe lesions which is significantly associated with residence outside the city and with acid ingestion. These findings are consistent with data from urban populations.
%K Caustic Ingestion
%K Epidemiology
%K Endoscopy
%K Rural
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=143499