Kerosene poisoning in children in Barbados

A retrospective study is reported of 140 children aged between seven months and five years who were admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St Michael, Barbados during a six-year period with kerosene poisoning. Seventy-eight were male (56%) and 62 female (44%). The majority (61%) were brought to the hospital less than four hours after ingestion. Vomiting, cough, fever and drowsiness were the most common symptoms observed. Twenty-four of 48 patients X-rayed showed pneumonia. There were no deaths. Physical findings were normal in those patients who were seen at follow-up clinic. Kerosene ingestion remains the commonest cause of childhood poisoning in Barbados. There is a greater need to stress its prevention in order to reduce its incidence.