Prospective clinico-epidemiological study of poison cases in a teaching hospital

Abstract

Poisoning is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in INDIA and also a major public health problem of worldwide. A thorough review of the risk factors helps to decrease the incidence and mortality. The study evaluates the cases admitted in R.I.M.S Hospital, KADAPA, Various parameters like age, sex, marital status, time of ingestion, agent responsible for incidence; type of poisoning, psychosocial problem, outcome and duration of treatment are analyzed. The objectives of this study are to determine the pattern and severity of poisoning cases admitted to R.I.M.S Hospital. A hospital  based study was carried out in the patient admitted to R.I.M.S Hospital with the history of poisoning for the period of 6 months between May 2014 to October 2014. Various parameters were analyzed and compared with other study. There were 206 cases during the 6 months duration and maximum case belonged to second and third decade of life. Most common manner of poisoning was suicidal and Unintentional bites incidence was mainly during evening hours super vasmol33, was the most commonly abused substance. Most of the cases had arrived hospital after one hour of exposure and duration of hospital stay in many cases were less than four days. Based on these findings preventive measures like precaution taken at various levels, restriction in free sale of the poisons and promoting Poison Information Centres along with public awareness and proper psychosocial management to decrease the incidence and mortality in poisoning cases can be suggested.