Question
Doctor, if a child at home accidentally ingests a drying agent, should they be taken to the hospital immediately?
Answer
In most cases, if a child accidentally swallows a drying agent during daily life, it is advisable to take them to the local hospital for medical consultation as soon as possible. Generally, drying agents contain sodium bicarbonate, which can cause burns to a child’s esophagus. Therefore, it is recommended that the child receive emergency treatment in the hospital’s emergency department, such as induced vomiting or purgation, to help the child expel the drying agent quickly and thus avoid further harm to the child’s body.