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Extremely elevated relative risk
of paraffin lamp oil exposures in Orthodox Jewish children. BACKGROUND: In observance of the
Sabbath and other religious holidays, many Orthodox Jews maintain
a burning lamp that uses paraffin lamp oil as fuel. Unintentional
pediatric exposure to paraffin lamp oil, a hydrocarbon, is typically
by ingestion and carries a risk of aspiration with subsequent
pneumonitis. This investigation was prompted by an apparent increase
in paraffin lamp oil exposures during the Jewish Sabbath, from
sunset Friday until sunset Saturday, noted by the staff of our
regional poison control center. METHODS: In this investigation, we
retrospectively reviewed all exposures to paraffin lamp oil occurring
in our large city in children <18 years old reported to our
regional poison control center between January 1, 2000, and February
1, 2003. Reports were investigated to ascertain the frequency
of occurrence of paraffin lamp oil exposures on the Jewish Sabbath
and Jewish religious holidays. Caregivers of involved children
were surveyed by telephone to determine the exposed child’s
religion and circumstances of exposure. RESULTS: During these 25 months,
45 cases met inclusion criteria, and all were ingestions. Orthodox
Jews accounted for 32 cases (71%), 4 cases (9%) occurred in children
who were not Orthodox Jews, and demographic data were unavailable
in 9 cases (20%). Twenty-four cases (53%) occurred within 10 hours
before or during the Jewish Sabbath or Jewish religious holidays.
The relative risk of Orthodox Jewish children to ingest paraffin
lamp oil, calculated by using census data, is 374 times that of
other children. CONCLUSIONS: Public health authorities and caregivers of Orthodox Jewish children should be cognizant of this phenomenon. Educational efforts directed toward both Orthodox Jews and the general public aimed at preventing paraffin lamp oil exposures are warranted.
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