Profile and Outcome of Childhood Hydrocarbon Poisoning: An Observational Study
Karthika Ik1, Debashree Priyadarshini1, Swathi Nakka1
1Pediatrics, All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, IND.
Insights
Accidental hydrocarbon poisoning in children is common, especially under age five, with kerosene being the most frequent cause. Fortunately, outcomes are excellent, with no fatalities reported in this study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Accidental poisoning remains a significant preventable medical emergency for children in developing nations.
- Hydrocarbon poisoning presents a notable challenge in pediatric care, necessitating targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the clinical and demographic characteristics of pediatric hydrocarbon poisoning.
- To evaluate the outcomes of children treated for hydrocarbon poisoning at a tertiary care center in Eastern India.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis was conducted on children under 15 years admitted for hydrocarbon poisoning between January 2015 and October 2018.
- Data collected included patient demographics, poisoning agent, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and radiographic results.
Main Results:
- Twenty-one pediatric cases of hydrocarbon poisoning were identified, with a median age of 2.6 years; 76% were under five.
- Kerosene (71.4%) and turpentine oil (24%) were the predominant agents, with poisoning being accidental in all instances.
- Common symptoms included fever and vomiting; 67% had abnormal chest X-rays, and 62% showed neutrophilic leukocytosis, yet no mortality occurred.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric hydrocarbon poisoning, predominantly accidental and linked to kerosene, affects young children (<5 years) most frequently.
- Clinical and radiological findings are common, but prompt medical attention leads to favorable outcomes.
- This study highlights the importance of preventative measures and effective management strategies for hydrocarbon poisoning in children.
Background:
Accidental poisoning, though preventable, has continued to be one of the most prevalent medical emergencies among children in developing countries.
Objective:
To describe the clinico-demographic profile and outcome of children with hydrocarbon poisoning at a tertiary care teaching hospital from Eastern India.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of the hospital case records of all children <15 years of age admitted with hydrocarbon poisoning from January 2015 to October 2018 was performed.
Results:
Out of 2658 total admissions, 21 children were admitted with hydrocarbon poisoning during the study period. The median age was 2.6 years (range, 1 to 14 years). Majorities (76%) were <5 years of age. The male/female ratio was 5:2. The majority belonged to rural areas (80.9%) and low socioeconomic status (71.4%). In all the cases, poisoning was accidental in nature. Kerosene (71.4%) and turpentine oil (24%) were the most common agents implicated. Majorities (95.3%) were symptomatic requiring hospitalization. Fever and vomiting were the most commonly observed symptoms (57%). Neutrophilic leucocytosis was observed in 62% of cases. Abnormal chest radiography was observed in 67% of cases. There was no mortality.
Conclusions:
The majority of the children with hydrocarbon poisoning are under five years of age with the accidental mode of poisoning in the current study. Kerosene was the most common agent. The outcome was excellent without any mortality.
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