Accidental Ingestion of Petroleum in Children at the University Hospital of Brazzaville ()
1. Introduction
Ingestion of petroleum, most often accidental, is one of the most common household accidents among children in developing countries. Due to its frequency, it is a real public health problem [1] [2] with pneumonia as their most frequent complications [3] . The World Health Organization estimates the incidence of accidental poisoning in children under 15 at 282.4/100,000, or 10.9% of all accidental injuries in children [4] . Ingestion of petroleum is rare or even exceptional in children in developed countries where reported cases mainly concern fire- breathing adults [3] [5] [6] . In France, ingestion of kerosene represents 0.6% of cases and is responsible for 1% of pneumonias [7] . In Africa where oil is used as fuel or source of lighting, petroleum poisoning is very worrying: this is the case in Burkina Faso where it represents 54.5% of pediatric hospitalizations, it is also the case in Côte d’Ivoire: 22.5%, 16.1% in Gabon and 9.7% in Mali [8] [9] [10] [11] . In Congo, petroleum ingestion accounts for 43% of accidental injuries in infants and 74% of acute poisonings in pediatric intensive care [1] [11] .
With the aim of improving the management of children hospitalized for accidental ingestion of petroleum, the objectives of the study were: to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of children hospitalized for accidental ingestion of petroleum; describe the clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects and identify the factors associated with the occurrence of petroleum pneumopathy.
2. Patients and Methods
The study was carried out in the pediatric department of the University Hospital of Brazzaville. This was a cross-sectional analytical study with retrospective data collection from January 2016 to December 2017, i.e. in 24 months.
We conducted the study on children hospitalized in the pediatric departmentregardless of their diagnoses. Those under 17 hospitalized for accidental ingestion of petroleum with available records were included. Newborns, ingestions of substances other than petroleum, and children aged 1 to 17 years old whose records were not usable were not included. The sample size calculated from Schwartz’s formula [12] was 30 cases based on Ekouya’s study [11] . A pre-established survey sheet as well as service files and registers were used for data collection.
The variables studied were: age, level of education and occupation of mothers; the age, sex of the child, circumstances of the occurrence (the place, time, method of ingestion, quantity ingested, maneuvers carried out and products administered at home), motive of admission, physical examination, blood count, radiological aspects, the treatment administered and the evolution profile, the amount ingested necessary to cause pneumonia by ingestion of petroleum was 1 ml/Kg [13] .
Data entry and analysis were performed using Epi info version 7 software. Qualitative variables were expressed as a percentage and quantitative as a median with interquartile range or as a mean with standard deviation. The comparison of the percentages was made with the Pearson’s Chi2 test of independence and the Odds ratio (OR). The significance level was set at 5% and the confidence interval at 95%.
3. Results
3.1. Descriptive Study
Out of 8013 children hospitalized during the study period, 91 (1.1%) had a history accidental ingestion of petroleum, of which 78 met the inclusion criteria: 1% of hospitalizations. These were 51 children (65.4%) hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit and 27 (34.6%) in the infant pediatric unit. The average age was 20 months with the interquartile range: IQR [13 - 25.5]. They were one to 12 months old n = 19 (24.4%); 13 to 30 months n = 44 (56.4%) and over 30 months n = 15 (19.2%). There were 49 boys (62.8%): aged one to 14 months n = 7 (14.3%), 15 to 30 months n = 32 (65.3%) and over 30 months n = 10 (20.4%) and 29 (37.2%) girls: aged one to 14 months n = 12 (41.4%), 15 to 30 months n = 12 (41.4%) and over 30 months n = 5 (17.2%). Sex ratio of 1.7 (Table 1).
The average age of the mothers was 29; IQR [25 - 34.7]. They were under 25 years old n = 17 (21.8%), between 25 and 35 years old n = 49 (62.8%), over 35 years old n = 12 (15.4%). They had an education level of secondary n = 49 (62.8%), primary n = 24 (30.8%) and university n = 5 (6.4%). They were unemployed n = 31 (39.7%), informal sector workers n = 26 (33.4%), civil servant n = 17 (21.8%) and student n = 4 (5.1%). The socioeconomic level was medium n = 43 (55.1%) and low n = 35 (44.9%).
![]()
Table 1. Distribution by age group and sexe.
The accidental mode of ingestion was self-ingestion n = 59 (75.6%) and administration by a third party n = 19 (24.4%). The ingestion occurred in the family home n = 72 (92.3%) and in neighbors n = 6 (7.7%): between seven and 2 p.m. n = 25 (32%), 2 and 6 p.m. n = 34 (43.6%) and 6 and 7 a.m. n = 19 (24.4%). The petroleum was kept in a drinking water bottle in all cases. The amount ingested, found in 69 cases (88.5%) was considered toxic in 40 cases (n = 51.2%). The maneuvers performed at home were: attempts to induce vomiting n = 39 (50%), administration of milk n = 51 (65.4%), water n = 16 (20.5%), palm oil n = (5.1%). The median consultation time was three hours. IQR [2 - 4.75]. It was minus six hours n = 66 (84.6%) and over n = 12 (n = 15.4%)
The reason for admission was difficulty breathing n = 59 cases (75.6%), cough n = 13 (16.7%), vomiting n = 5 (6.4%) and one case of fever. The examination signs were: respiratory distress n = 61 (78.2%), cough n = 33 (42.3%), fever n = 22 (28.2%), coma n = 18 (23.1%), abdominal bloating n = 2 (2.6%), convulsion and restlessness in one case each. Respiratory distress was mild n = 10 (16.4%), moderate n = 13 (21.3%) and severe n = 38 (63.3%). Lung auscultation noted bronchial rales n = 27 (60%), under crackles n = 14 (31.1%) and crackles n = 4 (8.9%).
The complete blood count in 75 cases (96.2%) noted hyperleukocytosis in 20 cases (26.7%) and anemia in 27 cases (34.6%). The CRP was done in 33 cases (42.3%) and elevated in nine cases (27.3%).
The chest X-ray, performed in all cases, was done during the first six hours n = 47 cases (60.3%) and beyond n = 31 (39.7%). An abnormality was noted in 43 cases (55.1%): bilateral n = 16 (37.2%), and unilateral n = 27 (34.6%) with right involvement in 24 cases (55.8%) and left three cases (7%). This involved alveolar involvement n = 29 (67.4%), interstitial n = 9 (21.0%) and alveolar-interstitial n = 5 (11.6%)
The treatment consisted of oxygen therapy n = 51 (65.4%), antibiotic therapy n = 70 (89.7%) made with an amoxicillin n = 63 (80.8%), a third generation cephalosporin n = 6 (11.7%) and an amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination n = 3 (3.8%); corticosteroid therapy n = 30 (38.5%) and blood transfusion n = 2 (2.6%).
The outcome was favorable in 35 children, pneumonia was noted in 43 cases (55.1%) and one death in three of them (3.8%) as a result of severe anemia: one case and following the severity of the respiratory distress: two cases. The median length of hospital stay was two days, with an interquartile range: IQR [2 - 3.7].
3.2. Analytical Study
The factors associated with the occurrence of petroleum pneumonitis were the quantity of petroleum ingested, the performance of certain maneuvers including induced vomiting, the administration of products including milk, the existence of cough and an auscultation anomaly (Table 2).
![]()
Table 2. Factors associated with the onset of pneumopathy.
4. Discussion
The current work on accidental ingestion of petroleum has some limitations, including the non-performance of blood gas measurement and bronchial endoscopy, the retrospective nature of the study, a source of data loss. However, it remains representative because of its size, its study setting, namely the pediatric departments of the University Hospital of Brazzaville, in particular the Pediatric Intensive Care department, the only department in the whole city with sufficient capacity to manage such emergencies in infants and children. These aspects give credibility to our results with the possibility of inference to the entire infant population of Brazzaville.
The hospital frequency estimated at 1.1% in this work is lower in Brazzaville than the previous work carried out in the same hospital: 1.8% and 2% [11.1]. Nevertheless, it is higher than those reported by ATEGBO in Gabon and KOUETA in Burkina-Faso: 0.4% and 0.3% [10.8]. This may be explained by the differences in the methods used in either studies particularly the type, the population and the study setting.
Petroleum ingestion is frequent in children with an average age of 20 months with a predominance in the age group of 13 to 30 months as reported by Mabiala et al. [1] : 19 to 24 months.
The predominance by age varies depending on the age group population of study. However, in most cases it has been reported a high incidence in children under five [8] [11] [14] . The classic male predominance already reported is found in this study [1] [8] [15] and is explained, among other things, by the hyperactive nature of the male child.
The predominant mode of ingestion, self-ingestion noted in 75.6% occurring between 2 and 6 p.m. is a known fact [9] [16] [17] . These hours correspond to the period of declining parental attention. Ingestion occurs more at home [1.9] as in 92.3% of children in this study. The petroleum storage container, often a bottle of drinking water, exposes the child if thirsty [18] . The harmful maneuvers used as the first line following ingestion of petroleum are the same and are the same as those reported by SYLLA [19] , including administration of milk and attempted vomiting.
Clinically, pulmonary presentations are predominant [1] [16] [19] . They were noted in 75.1% of our patients. Their predominance is a consequence of inhalation of the volatile product, facilitated by coughing, vomiting maneuvers which contribute to the tracheobronchial passage of petroleum [20] . The pulmonary manifestations are associated with the occurrence of petroleum pneumopathy [21] . We noted 67.4% alveolar syndrome and 21% interstitial syndrome. The frequency of petroleum pneumopathy in this issueat 55.1% is similar to that reported by Siddiqui in Pakistan [20] , lower than that of the study of Mahjoob in Iraq: 86% [22] .
From a therapeutic sight, the antibiotherapy used in 89.7% of our patients and corticosteroids in 38.5% are well-known practices [16] [21] . Many authors recommend betalactams for the prophylactic treatment of secondary pulmonary infections. Others recommend them from the outset without proof of effectiveness. As for corticosteroids, no studies have shown their effectiveness on the intensity and or duration of symptoms [3] [23] .
The outcome is generally good, but a 3.8% lethality has been noted as reported in some studies [1] [8] [11] [21] [22] . However, Gueye reports a lethality of more than 5% in relation to the delay in taking charge of the patient [16] . The well- known factors associated with the occurrence of pneumonia [1] [22] [24] are: the amount ingested, the maneuvers performed at home and the existence of cough and neurological disorders.
5. Conclusion
Accidental ingestion of petroleum is still common among children in Brazzaville. The storage of petroleum in drinking water bottles is the determining factor. The relative lethality is important in part because of the always possible occurrence of pneumopathy, the main complication, of which the quantity of petroleum ingested and the maneuvers carried out at home are the most common associated factors.