Carbon monoxide poisoning: Case series among siblings in Lafia Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a common indoor pollutant that is quite dangerous if inhaled. It is a “silent killer”, as it is extremely hazardous to people when emitted in an enclosed area as it gets absorbed into the bloodstream and displaces oxygen due to a much higher affinity, resulting in cellular hypoxia. Children are vulnerable as they are less likely to take preventive measures and have higher oxygen requirements due to higher metabolic demands. We reported this case series among five siblings aged between 4 – 16 years (two boys and three girls) in Lafia Nasarawa State. The parents are petty traders, with secondary level of education. The children live with their parents in a one-bedroom apartment and the family possesses a small petrol generator usually situated outside the house when in use and kept within the apartment after use to avert theft. The children bought fuel from a local vendor (a black marketer) to watch a movie on a day the parents are away. They kept the generator within the apartment in a space between the bathroom and their store while keeping all windows and other air outlets closed so as to circumvent the noise from getting to neighbours. The children got exposed to CO fumes which had engulfed the apartment and were met unconscious by the mother when she came back from night vigil. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, before eventual referral to our facility after the demise of one of them aged 12 years. We reported CO poisoning among siblings with death in one of the five. Oxygen administration plays a vital role in the successes recorded.