Childhood XXXX at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

@entity1 @entity15788 @entity4968
A retrospective study of @entity1 admitted into the @entity1 Emergency Room of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, between 1989 and 1998 was undertaken. There were 127 cases constituting 0.52% of the total paediatric admissions over the study period. Poisoning was commoner among the lower socioeconomic classes and in males than females. 102 (80.3%) of the @entity1 involved were below the age of five years and @entity4968 was unintentional in 98.4%. @entity15788 was the commonest agent accounting for 40.9% of all cases; followed by caustic soda (20.4%) and traditional mixtures (19.7%). Oral administration of palm oil is the commonest home remedy. Morbidity was commonest with caustic soda while traditional mixture was responsible for 80% of the mortality. Fifteen (11.9%) @entity1 died constituting 0.84% of total childhood mortality during the study period. We conclude that childhood @entity4968 is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in @entity1 seen at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital. Improvement in the socioeconomic status of parents and health education on proper storage of household chemicals will help in reducing the incidence and mortality from @entity4968 .
