Toddler in critical condition after drinking drain cleaner at home

A one-and-a-half-year-old boy was hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit after swallowing caustic soda at his home in Tiberias on June 20, 2026. He is said to be in serious but stable condition, and doctors have placed him under sedation and on a ventilator.

Magen David Adom teams were called to the house, gave the child initial treatment at the scene, and evacuated him to the hospital. The article says caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a strong alkaline substance used mainly for unclogging drains, removing grease, and in industry.

Unlike acids, which usually cause more superficial burns, caustic soda can penetrate deeply into tissue and cause liquefactive necrosis, in which cells are rapidly destroyed and the injury keeps spreading after the initial contact. If swallowed, it can burn the mouth, tongue, throat, esophagus, and stomach, with symptoms such as severe pain, drooling, vomiting, trouble swallowing, and sometimes breathing difficulties. If inhaled or drawn into the airway, it can cause severe swelling, airway blockage, and lung damage.

In severe cases, the article says, holes can form in the esophagus or stomach, requiring urgent surgery. Even if the child survives the acute stage, scarring and narrowing of the esophagus can develop weeks or months later, leading to long-term swallowing problems and sometimes repeated procedures or complex surgery. Initial treatment focuses on securing the airway, monitoring breathing and heart function, giving fluids, and treating pain, while later care may include imaging and endoscopy to assess the burns. The article notes that household cleaners and drain openers are common causes of serious poisonings in young children, usually when stored in unlocked bottles, unoriginal containers, or within reach.