Biomaterial Database

Household chemicals poisoning admissions in Zimbabwe's main urban centres. 1994

C F Nhachi, and O M Kasilo

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.

1. A retrospective analysis to evaluate the epidemiology of poisoning by household chemicals based on admissions at Zimbabwe's six main urban hospitals over a 10-year period (1980-1989) was performed. 2. A total of 1192 household chemicals poisoning cases were recorded, and this constituted 20% of all poisoning cases (6018) recorded during the study period. 3. The 0-5 year age group constituted the majority of cases (61.3%), then the 16-25 and 26-30 year age groups accounting for 11% and 5.2% respectively. 4. The sex distribution showed that 43.7% were females. 5. Most incidences were accidental (66.8%). Suicides and/or parasuicides accounted for 19%. 6. Mortality was recorded at 13% and most of the deaths were suicides. 7. Paraffin (Kerosene) was the most common poisoning agent accounting for 68% of the cases. This was followed by rat poisons (5.8%), bleaches (5.1%) and caustic soda (3.3%). 8. The incidence of poisoning with household chemicals could be reduced by health education directed to parents emphasising the importance of safe storage of paraffin and other household chemicals, and by legislation to stop retailers selling paraffin for domestic use in second-hand containers.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297	Male		Males
D011041	Poisoning	A condition or physical state produced by the ingestion, injection, inhalation of or exposure to a deleterious agent.	Poisonings
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260	Female		Females
D006266	Health Education	Education that increases the awareness and favorably influences the attitudes and knowledge relating to the improvement of health on a personal or community basis.	Community Health Education,Education, Health,Education, Community Health,Health Education, Community
D006786	Hospitals, Urban	Hospitals located in metropolitan areas.	City Hospitals,Hospitals, City,Hospitals, City, Non-Public-Owned,Hospitals, Metropolitan,Urban Hospitals,City Hospitals, Non-Public-Owned,Metropolitan Hospitals,Non-Public-Owned City Hospitals,City Hospital,City Hospital, Non-Public-Owned,City Hospitals, Non Public Owned,Hospital, City,Hospital, Metropolitan,Hospital, Non-Public-Owned City,Hospital, Urban,Hospitals, Non-Public-Owned City,Metropolitan Hospital,Non Public Owned City Hospitals,Non-Public-Owned City Hospital,Urban Hospital
D006795	Household Products	Substances or materials used in the course of HOUSEHOLD WORK or personal routine.	Household Supplies,Household Product,Product, Household,Products, Household,Supplies, Household