Characteristics of Petroleum Poisoned Children in Thi Qar Governorate (Iraq) 2010

Abstract

Kerosene poisoning is one of the major health problems among the attendants of emergency unit in pediatric and maternity hospital in Nassiriyah –Thi Qar governorate, the main risks to the life of affected children are related to the pulmonary and neurological complications. This study is designed to measure the extent of kerosene poisoning other petroleum products and to describe certain aspects of affected children and how severe the cases are. A cross sectional epidemiological study extended from the 1st week of November 2009 till the last week of June 2010. Each patients compliant from derivatives of petroleum poisoning were included in the study at any time of consultations of doctors in charge in the emergency department of the pediatric main hospital during the period of the study.
The results showed that the peak age incidence was among 1-5 years old children, while those under one year represented the smallest percent, most of poisoned children were from al Nassiriyah city. The majority (61.9%) of the poisoned children were of kerosene type, in a substantial proportion of poisoned child were included in a category "unknown amount of ingested kerosene". Females have higher incidence than males. There was a great variation in presentation of patient, which differ from other studies.