Demographics And Pharmacoeconomics Of Kerosene Poisoning In A Tertiary Care Hospital

AIM To determine the demographics and direct costs of kerosene poisoning. OBJECTIVES1. To determine the hospital costs, drug charges, professional charges and investigation charges2. To compare the charges between patients needing intensive care and patients treated in the ward METHODSAll cases of kerosene poisoning presenting the pediatric casualty were retrospectively followed up from the MLC register and the costs incurred determined. This was statically analyzed with Microsoft Excel. RESULTS and CONCLUSION Twenty percent of the poisoning cases presenting in the pediatric casualty are dure to kerosene poisoning. 80 of the patients were between one and three years of age. The average total cost incurred by patients admitted to the ICU is Rs.24,150 and those treated in the ward is Rs.2812. The heavy burden due to kerosene should be avoided by a community level intervention.