Pulmonary radiological changes in kerosene poisoning in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia.

A prospective study of pulmonary radiological changes following accidental kerosene poisoning in 67 children is presented. Abnormalities were seen in 41 patients (61.2%), and these were categorized according to nine patterns. These included varying degrees of perihilar and lung infiltration, pulmonary cystic changes, pleural effusion, empyema, pneumomediastinum and surgical emphysema. The two most common were bilateral perihilar infiltrates with clear lung bases and bilateral perihilar with basal infiltrates. In the majority of cases, these radiological changes resolved completely within 10-12 days with only two needing surgical intervention.