ETIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH ACUTE POISONING TO A TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: To determine the etiological and clinical profile of patients presenting to a teaching hospital with acute poisoning.

Methodology: This was a hospital based descriptive study of 103 patients pre- senting with acute poisoning from June 2015 to September 2016. Patients of more than 12 years age and of either gender were included by non-probabili- ty convenient sampling method. Demographics, etiological and clinical profile (intentionality of poisoning, nature of agents and clinical presentation) were studied. For data entry and analysis, SPSS version 21.0 was utilized.

Results: Out of 103 patients, there were 38 (36.9%) males and 65 (63.1%) fe- males. Age of the patients ranged from 13 to 70 years with mean age of 24.56 ±10.424 years. Majority [n=44, (42.7%)] of the cases were between the age group of 21-30 years. Unconsciousness was the most frequent [(n=27 (26.2%)] clinical presentation of patients with acute poisoning followed by vomiting 22 (21.4%). The commonest poison ingested was organophosphorus compounds 32 (31.1%), followed by benzodiazepines 13 (12.6%) and aluminium phosphide poisoning 09 (8.7%) cases. Suicidal intent was found in 82 (79.6%) cases.

Conclusion: Most of our patients were young individuals. Altered mental status was the most frequent clinical presentation of patients with acute poisoning. The commonest poison ingested was organophosphorus compounds followed by benzodiazepines and aluminium phosphide poisoning. Suicidal intention was the main reason for acute poisoning.