Tropical Doctor > Volume 39, Number 4 > Pp. 236-238

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Short Reports

Clinical and therapeutic aspects of childhood kerosene poisoning in Djibouti

Alain Benois MD   ^*    Fabrice Petitjeans MD      Laurent Raynaud MD      Eric Dardare MD   ^*   Hervé Sergent MD   ^*

^* Intensive Care Unit, HIA Robert Picqué, 31 Route de Toulouse, Villenave d'Ornon; Anethesie Reanimation, Lyon; Intensive Care Unit, HIA Begin, Saint Mandé, France

Correspondence to: Alain Benois, Intensive Care Unit, HIA Robert Picqué, 31 Route de Toulouse, Villenave d'Ornon, France Email: acbenois{at}voila.fr

We report a prospective and descriptive study about childhood acute poisoning with kerosene in Djibouti. Acute poisoning is a common and stable occurrence in low socioeconomic groups in Africa, where negligence is the main cause of poisoning. The respiratory system was the main target, with 41% of patients having pneumonia, which may become life-threatening, but with low mortality rate. Asymptomatic patients (35%) can be discharged, while those with pulmonary or neurological signs must be admitted for observation and supportive treatment based on oxygen administration. Our study suggests management and provides a discussion for therapeutic options and emphasizes the importance of prevention.

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