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Accidental paraffin poisoning in Kenyan children
Author(s) -
Lang T.,
Thuo N.,
Akech S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02067.x
Subject(s) - accidental , medicine , kenya , incidence (geometry) , accidental poisoning , vomiting , pediatrics , environmental health , kerosene , poison control , medical emergency , injury prevention , surgery , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , optics , political science , acoustics , law
Summary A serious and common accident in rural Kenyan homesteads is accidental ingestion of paraffin when it has been mistaken for water and offered to a young child. Here we report the incidence, parental practices and outcome of severe paraffin poisoning, requiring admission at Kilifi District Hospital, Kenya. Over a 2‐year period, 48 children (0.5% of all admissions) were admitted with kerosene poisoning, constituting 62% of all poisoning cases. All cases were accidental. Ten per cent had induced vomiting. One child (2%) died. We suggest these data support assessment followed by implementation of practical and affordable measures to prevent paraffin poisoning.