Babar M I, Rafiq Ahmed Bhait, Muhammad Ejaz Cheema.
Kerosene oil poisoning in Children.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(8):472-6.

Objective: To know the frequency of kerosene poisoning in children, its sequelae for planning and implementing preventive programs. Design: A hospital-based retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Pediatric Unit, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan (Pakistan), during the period of two years from September 1999 to September 2001. Patients and Methods: The study included forty (40) consecutive patients admitted through emergency department with diagnosis of accidental ingestion of kerosene oil. The clinical data was obtained from patients` charts regarding age, sex, residential area, mode of presentation, clinical findings, management and complications. The laboratory information and chest x-rays of patients were collected. Results: Among 40 children, 25 were males and 15 females (M:F:1.6:1),with age range of 2 months 8 years. The mean age was 30+17 months. Thirty-one (77.7 %) belonged to urban areas and 9 children were from rural areas. All children drank one to two draughts of oil. In most of the cases, the oil was kept in discarded bottles of beverages. Majority of the cases had developed cough, choking and gagging after drinking and 95 % of cases vomited and had smell of oil in their breath, and they presented with respiratory distress. Tachypnea and tachycardia were initial signs in all cases (100%), crepitations were present in 36 cases (90%). Respiration rate and chest crepitations had prognostic values. One patient developed pleural effusion after 2 days of ingestion. Six patients suffered from bronchopneumonia. One patient developed right lung collapse. One death occurred due to CNS depression and respiratory failure. Conclusion: Kerosene oil is a common hazardous substance ingested accidentally by toddlers and pre-schoolers. Respiratory complications and death may occur. It is highly preventable situation.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com