WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Omar Akram Qassim, Bassam Najem Abo and Rasha Ramzi Ahmed

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted on 64 children who accidentally ingested kerosene between June 2021 and June 2024. Most of these children were between one and three years old, and boys were three times more likely to be affected than girls. Common symptoms included coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and drowsiness. Fever often developed later, typically within six hours of ingestion. A significant number of children (75%) developed kerosene aspiration pneumonia within six hours. This was primarily diagnosed through X-rays, as clinical symptoms were not always obvious. The most common finding on X-rays was fluid in the lower right lung. Vomiting was a major risk factor for pneumonia, occurring in 85.4% of children who developed the condition. All patients received antibiotics, but these did not reduce the duration of fever. Unfortunately, one child deteriorated rapidly and passed away soon after arrival. However, the remaining patients improved clinically and radiologically over a period of 3-10 days. Complete recovery on X-rays took longer, with some children taking up to 28 days.