Caustic soda poisoning in Ghana--an alarming increase.

In 2010, there was a sudden increase in the number of children admitted to Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi with caustic soda poisoning. To quantify the increase and identify possible causes. Detailed review of case-notes of all children admitted with poisoning from January 2009 to June 2010 was undertaken using a standardised proforma. From January to June 2010, there was a six-fold increase in the number of children admitted with caustic soda poisoning compared with January to June 2009 (13 vs 2). Owing to the increase in caustic soda ingestion, there were almost twice the number of cases of chemically-induced poisoning in January-June 2010 (34) as in January-June 2009 (19 cases). In the entire period (January 2009 to June 2010), the majority of admissions for chemical poisoning were children ≤3 years of age and 50 of the 72 (69.4%) cases were boys. In six of the 13 cases in the January-June 2010 period, caustic soda was drunk directly from a plastic water bottle. All children with caustic soda poisoning had been given palm oil to drink by their guardians. It is suggested that the recent introduction of bottled water is an important element in the increase of caustic soda poisoning. Previously, water was sold in plastic bags. The plastic water bottles are re-used to store caustic soda which children then drink, mistaking it for water.

Citation

Emma Weldon, Pamela M Martey. Caustic soda poisoning in Ghana--an alarming increase. Paediatrics and international child health. 2012 Aug;32(3):158-60

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PMID: 22824664

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