Ama, a 2-year old girl, was brought to the cardio centre accompanied by her distraught mother. The child’s appearance was pathetic at best. Looking dry and haggard with saliva drooling from her mouth, the bones in her temple showing through her dry skin and the hollow look in her eyes, one wondered if this was a case of child neglect. But no, this was no such case. The mother settled down and told her story – Ama had been a well-cared-for and playful child. Six weeks prior to this clinic attendance, she had been playing in the neighbour’s house. Feeling thirsty, she reached for the ‘water’ stored in a soft drink bottle in the neighbour’s kitchen and helped herself. After a few gulps, she realized this was a case of mistaken identity. Her mouth and throat ‘burned with fire’ literally. Her cry attracted the neighbour’s attention who seeing the soft drink bottle in the child’s hand realized to her horror what had happened - the bottle contained caustic soda solution for the domestic manufacture of soap. The unsuspecting child had essentially burned up her gullet and now needs urgent medical attention.