Clinico-epidemiological profile of poisoned patients in emergency department: A two and half year′s single hospital experience

Abstract

Context:Poisoning is a common cause for attending emergency department of hospitals.Aims:To explore the epidemiological characteristics and clinical profile of patients presenting with poisoning in emergency department.Settings and Design:Prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based study.Materials and Methods:Relevant epidemiological and clinical data from patients, presenting with history/clinical features of poisoning in emergency department of a tertiary care district hospital in India, were collected and analyzed.Statistical Analysis:Data analysis was done by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods: Frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation (SD). A two-tailed P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results:A total of 4,432 patients with history and/clinical features of poisoning were included in the study. The females clearly outnumbered male patients. Poisoning with suicidal intent was more frequent (81.08%) than accidental (18.92%) (P < 0.0001). Majority of the patients were housewives followed by farmers, businessmen, laborers, and students. The mean time interval between poison consumption and admission to hospital was 6.4 hours (Mean ± SD: 6.4 ± 2.29). Snakebite (31.90%) was the most common cause of poisoning followed by organophosphorus compounds (21.84%), rodenticide (16.49%), alcohol (13.80%), chemicals (9.04%), and drugs (2.3%). The mean GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) score of the poisoned patients at presentation was 6.85 ± 1.62. Of all the patients included in the study, 3,712 patients (83.76%) survived and 720 patients (16.24%) expired.Conclusions:The current piece of work suggests that most of the poisoning cases involved young age group particularly females. Snakebite and organophosphorus compounds contributed most of the poisoning cases which calls for urgent government initiatives for improvement in proper lighting of the district to prevent snakebite and controlled use of pesticides.

Clinical Study of Acute Poisoning: A Retrospective Study

“…[6] Banerjee I et al observed the mean GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) score of the poisoned patients at presentation was 6.85 ± 1.62. [14] In this study 70.68% patients were discharged, 20.68% expired and 8.62% left against medical advice. Out of 12 patients expired 7 were males and 5 were females and were in 16-25 age groups.…”

“…Banerjee I et al who conducted study in India also observed clear common affection in females. [14] In present study age of affection ranges from 16 to 65 years with a mean age of 25.79 and majority were in the age group of 16 to 25 years. Similar finding was observed by Baydin A et al with mean ages of female and male patients were 28.8+/-12.9 years and 35.1+/-15.4 years respectively, and majority of patients (46.9%) were between the ages of 16 and 25 years.…”

“…[17] Banerjee I et al observed snakebite (31.90%) as the most common cause of poisoning followed by organophosphorus compounds (21.84%), rodenticide (16.49%), alcohol (13.80%), chemicals (9.04%), and drugs (2.3%). [14] Mohammad Abdollahi et al observed benzodiazepines (24.5%) as the most frequent, followed by antidepressants (20.5%) and analgesics (18%). Organophosphate insecticides were responsible for 57% of total pesticide poisoning cases.…”

Acute intentional poisonings within an urban agglomeration in Poland in 2004–2013

“…Furthermore, more deliberate self-poisonings with pesticides occurred in typically farmed areas of China. Despite a decrease in the number of deaths caused by poisonings with pesticides containing aluminium phosphide, or belonging to the group of carbamates and organophosphorus compounds, the country where acute poisonings with pesticides still appear a burning issue is India [40,41]. The same groups: organophosphorus pesticides and carbamates, as well as derivatives of warfarin were responsible for most cases of deliberate self-poisonings in Zimbabwe.…”

Patterns of Acute Poisoning Among Patients Treated in the Emergency Wards of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…India is an agrarian country where agriculture is the principal source of livelihood for more than 55% of the population [4,5]. Several studies revealed that pesticides, drugs, and household products account for the major poisoning in India.…”