Doraickannu T, Jomi James, N. Sechassayana
BACKGROUND High incidence of encounters with agricultural poisons, and lack of data from Indian scenario, necessitate studies in this regard. Our study aims at investigating the pattern of acute poisoning cases in a tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu. METHODS Our prospective observational study enrolled 228 participants who presented with acute poisoning to casualty or general medicine department during 2014-2018. Unwilling participants and envenomation (snakes & scorpions) were excluded. Sociodemographic data, aetiology, type of aqent used, duration of hospitalization, and outcome of hospitalization were recorded. Institutional ethics committee approved the study, and written informed consent was obtained from all study participants. Data was analysed using R™; ANOVA was used as test of significance and descriptive statistics was used to describe parameters. RESULTS The mean age of participants was low (28 years) with significantly lower age among females. Depression was the most common etiological factor; rat poison, organophosphates and ant powder were commonly used. No significant difference in duration of hospital stay between participants with various types of poison was seen. 37% participants had clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS Timely intervention and early recognition can prevent deliberate and accidental harm. The recognition of signs and symptoms of locally available poisons is important in reaching an early diagnosis.
