Review of Gastroenteritis Caused by Food Poisoning in University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives To estimate the prevalence rate of cases of gastroenteritis caused by food poisoning reported to University College Hospital. Methods This was a retrospective observational study of patients who attended the clinic from 2010–2016. Patient's folders were surveyed for patients who had reported at the hospital with diarrhoeal cases. Relevant information such as types of food eating, causes and duration of diarrhea etc were retrieved from the folders. Results Data from past records of patients who had attended clinic from 2010–2016 at University College Hospital (UCH) for gastroenteritis as a result of food borne poisoning showed a total of 72 diarrhoeal cases of which 25 (76.9%) were caused by food poisoning. In Medical out-patient ward (MOP), there was only 24 cases of food poisoning out of the 34 cases of diarrhoea reported. MOP had the highest cases of diarrhoea (34) recorded while Surgical out-patient ward (SOP) had the lowest number of cases, just 3 cases. Children out-patient ward (CHOP) and SOP had no reported case of food poisoning while Ante-natal clinic ward (ANC) had only one case of reported food poisoning. The following foods were indicated in food poisoning such as rice, pop corn, kilichi and fried potatoes. Fish roll was indicated as the only source of food poisoning for all diarrhoeal cases reported at ANC. Augmentin, Metronidazole, Ciprofloxacin, Ceftriaxone, Loperamide, Normal saline and Coatem were the only drugs used in treatment. Conclusions The study indicated a relationship between the types of wards and drug used. Also, ciprofloxacin was the drug of choice used by all wards. Funding Sources Self-sponsored.