Kerosene poisoning in children in Barbados.

SUMMARYA retrospective study is reported of 140 children aged between seven months and five years who were admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St Michael, Barbados during a six-year period with kerosene poisoning. Seventy-eight were male (56%) and 62 female (44%). The majority (61%) were brought to the hospital less than four hours after ingestion.Vomiting, cough, fever and drowsiness were the most common symptoms observed. Twenty-four of 48 patients X-rayed showed pneumonia. There were no deaths. Physical findings were normal in those patients who were seen at follow-up clinic. Kerosene ingestion remains the commonest cause of childhood poisoning in Barbados. There is a greater need to stress its prevention in order to reduce its incidence.