Hi,
Thank you for your quey,
Kerosene ingestion leads to aspiration of kerosene in to lungs which may lead to aspiration pneumonia.
And kerosene absorption into blood may lead to effects on nervous system causing drowsiness and some time seizures.
So I advise you tpo take your child to Pediatrician or emergency as early as possible to assess the signs of kerosene ingestion and to look for any signs of aspiration into lungs.
Child should be kept for observation for atleast 24 hours to monitor these things and investigations like chest x ray to look for any lung involvement.
Hope I have answered your query.

Hi,

Kerosene is a a hydrocarbon fuel which is not absorbed by tummy but can lead to aspiration pneumonitis if child vomits or due to the fumes it eminates.Hence what you did was right remove and wash the area where kerosene had spilled.Now since we don't know whether how much reached her tummy one needs to observe her ideally in hospital setting when in case her breathing rate increases she could be give supplementary oxygen and pneumonia treated accordingly.So I guess get in touch with your pediatrician and let him assess whether she has pnemonitis.

Bye

Take care.

Hello and welcome to health care magic. Thanks for your query.

As per your description you are not sure that your child has consumed kerosene or not.
Kerosene causes skin irritation and dryness, Good that you gave her a bath and decontaminated the skin.

Do not induce vomiting, because it can enter the wind pipe and causes respiratory distress.

Look for alarming signs like- dizziness, vomiting, convulsion, respiratory distress, restlessness, loss of consciousness

If eyes are exposed then give immediate eye wash with water.

I would suggest you to seek medical help as early as possible, because kerosene is known to cause chemical pneumonitis and respiratory distress if the child is injested or inhaled kerosene

Wish you all the best
Regards
DR SHEEBA STEPHEN
( Emergency consultant)

Hi,

Thanks for writing to health care magic.
Now please monitor her cough and breathing rate.

If she develops cough and fast breathing, it could mean aspiration of kerosene and requires admission and investigations.

Please be careful with kids and child proof your house for the hazards that may occur.
You may contact me with further details on the following URL...........

http://www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-y-v-siva-sankara-murty/65124

In such scenario the questions are directly forwarded to me .............. and I can answer your queries regarding your kid online regularly.

Hope this helps.
Take care

Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics