Analysis of profile of childhood kerosene poisoning in a tertiary care medical college hospital
Abstract
Background: Children are very vulnerable to acute accidental poisoning. One of the most important poisoning in children is accidental ingestion of kerosene which is a common household substance. Its prevention plays a major role in reducing its morbidity and mortality in children.
Objective: To understand the profile of accidental kerosene poisoning in children with special reference to symptoms, complications, radiological changes, course and outcome after treatment.
Materials and Methods: Children hospitalized with acute poisoning at the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between January 1st 2010 and December 31st 2015 were retrospectively evaluated from hospital records. A detailed history was taken using the proforma having special reference to age, sex, poisoning agents and route of intake ,time of admission of the poisoned patients,socio- economic status of the family and cases with acute kerosene poisoning (AKP) were analysed.
Results: In the PICU out of a total of 5806 patients admitted, 401 (6.9%) were due to acute poisoning . Among them AKP was noted in 91 (22.7%) patients and was second only to pharmaceutical medicine poisoning in 128 (28.7%) cases. All the children were admitted to the PICU, but most only required supportive care. There was no mortality following AKP during the study period.
Conclusion: All paediatric age groups are at risk of AKP. Most children suffer due to unintentional poisoning because of easy availability of kerosene in their house itself. As AKP is preventable it must be given due importance in health control programs at all levels of health care.
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