Accidental poisoning in children in Lusaka

An analysis of 378 cases of accidental poisoning by ingestion or inhalation in children admitted to the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, in 1978, is presented. The distribution was as follows: paraffin poisoning (57.1%), food poisoning (18.3%), other household poisons (11%) and "medicines" (10.8%). In 9 cases poison could not be identified. Two patients (0.5%) died.