Kerosene poisoning in children.

as an insecticide or for other purposes, and is kept in many homes. Kerosene poisoning is, therefore, a common cause of admission to children's hospitals in many parts of the world, for example the United States, Canada (Report of Subcommittee on Accidental Poisoning, 1962), Australia (Southby, 1965), Malta (Cachia & Fenech, 1964), and Turkey (Coruh & Inal, 1966). It is estimated that in the United States 28,000 children under the age of 5 years ingest petroleum distillate products annually. Among these children the number of deaths each year ranged from sixty-six to 110 in the period 1951-58 (Report of the American Academy of Paediatrics, 1962). The main risks are due to the pulmonary and neurological complications. Cough, cyanosis and rapid shallow breathing are associated with a chemical pneumonitis of bronchopneumonic distribution. A secondary bacterial infection may supervene. The central nervous system disorder manifests itself by drowsiness, irritability, stupor or coma and occasionally convulsions. Gastro-intestinal disturbances consist of nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea. The purpose of this study was to gather epidemiological and clinical information on accidental ingestion of kerosene and to evaluate gastric lavage in its treatment. Materials and methods