Socio-demographic factors, symptoms, complications and treatment of kerosene oil poisoning in children: A hospital based cross-sectional study

Objective: To assess the contribution of social and demographic factors and to describe the symptoms, complications and treatment of kerosene oil poisoning                            

Method: This is a cross-sectional study of   children with kerosene oil poisoning who were admitted to College of Medicine and JNM Hospital in Kalyani, India during a one year study period. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics.                                                                    

Results: There were 64 children with kerosene oil poisoning during study period. There were 72% males, 75% toddlers and 72% families below the poverty line. Incidence was 62.5% in summer and in 43.8% cases kerosene was stored in transparent water containers. Fever was present in 26.6%, respiratory distress in 22% and pneumonitis in 15.6% children. There were no deaths.                   

Conclusions: In our study 15.6% children developed pneumonitis. In 65.6% instances the kerosene oil was mistaken for water or cold drinks. There were no deaths.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v45i2.7985     

(Key words: kerosene oil, poisoning in children)