ACUTE POISONING

ETIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS IN PATIENTS COMING TO ER OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Acute poisoning with various substances is common worldwide. Exposure to
agrochemicals, medicines and environmental agents are the major causes of poisoning.1 It is
one of the commonest causes of morbidity and mortality to the patients which has drawn the
world attention. Objectives: To determine the socio-demographic characteristics and causes
and agents of poisoning among patients visiting emergency department with acute poisoning.
Methods: All the poisoning cases that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and attended the emergency
department from February 2014 till March 2015 with acute poisoning were evaluated. A hospital
medical record form were used for data collection in which the details of patient’s demography,
agents of poisoning and intension of poisoning, were entered from hospital records and
analyzed. Results: A total of 364 patients attended the emergency department of Zia Uddin
university hospital over period of 12 months. In this population 36% were male and 64%
were females. Commonest age group for poisoning was 15-30 yrs. and commonest agent
was organophosphate. Intentional poisoning comprised of 88% while accidental poisoning
comprised of 12%. Conclusion: On the basis of our study we can conclude that female
adolescents and adults are more prone to intentional acute poisoning and pesticides are the
commonest agents involved in acute poisoning.