Author(s): Ginigeri Chetan, Rathi Sharmila Ramar, Narayanan. P, Vishnu Bhat. B, Srinivasan.S
In the current times of information empowerment, certain age-old socio-cultural practices such as the local custom of instilling oil into the nose and mouth of infants continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. Aim: To evaluate the magnitude of the problem of oil instillation and co-morbidities associated with it in a referral hospital. Materials and methods: Medical records of the children admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of oil-instillation pneumonia were reviewed with regard to the clinical and radiological features, management issues and outcome. Results: History of oil instillation was present among 8.9% (69 / 774) of the children admitted with pneumonia; eighty seven percent of the patients with oil instillation were acutely symptomatic; 10% of them required mechanical ventilation for worsening hypoxia and respiratory failure of which three (4.1%) expired. Conclusion: Oil Instillation pneumonia is a common problem among the inpatients in this tertiary care hospital catering to Puducherry and adjoining parts of Tamilnadu. Campaign targeting the local rural population with the help of health agencies, media and the local administration should be done on a priority basis to tackle this preventable health hazard