The epidemiology and clinical features of paraffin (kerosene) poisoning in rural African children.

One hundred and eleven children under 5 years of age admitted with a diagnosis of paraffin ingestion, constituting 9.1% of total ward admissions in this age group, were studied prospectively. The majority were between 13 and 36 months old. One-fifth of the children were in the care of another child at the same time of ingestion. Fourteen families had a past history of paraffin ingestion. Only 22% of households normally stored in paraffin above ground level and in only 15% of cases was paraffin stored in a container specified for that purpose. Emesis was attempted using home remedies in 72% of cases and was associated with a significant increase in vomiting. Vomiting had an impact on the exacerbation of the clinical features of paraffin poisoning, particularly fever. Clinical criteria laid down for suspected superadded bacterial lung infection resulted in half of the study group having blood cultures performed on day 1 and another 17 on day 4. Only two yielded isolates which possibly could have been indicative of bacteremia secondary to infective pneumonia. No child in the suspected group was treated with antibiotics and all recovered uneventfully. Admission chest X-rays contributed little to the management of the illness. Paraffin ingestion remains a serious contributor to child morbidity in rural South Africa and there appears to be room for further preventive education at community level. Specific measures could include storage of paraffin in designated containers above ground level and emphasis on adult supervision of children. Superadded bacterial pneumonia is uncommon and antibiotics in the management of suspected cases are not routinely indicated.