Clinical Profile of Acute Poisoning Cases at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kashmir, India: A Descriptive Cross Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/nwndt617Keywords:
Acute Poisoning, Organophosphates, Opioids.Abstract
Acute poisoning from a variety of substances is common in every part of the world. The sooner the
initial resuscitation, decontamination, and use of specific antidotes, the better the outcome. The
main objective of this study was to describe the clinical profile and outcome of poisoning cases
admitted to SKIMS Medical college, a tertiary care hospital located in central part of Jammu and
Kashmir India. Descriptive cross sectional evaluations were conducted on all cases that were
admitted to the hospital’s emergency room over a period of one year from March 2022 to February
2023. The following parameters were examined using data taken from hospital medical records:
socioeconomic factors, substances consumed, routes of intake, clinical symptomatology and severity
of poisoning.300 patients were included in the study with different poisonings of which 35% were
males and 65% were females. The most common form of poisoning was due to pesticides followed by
rodenticides and opioid intoxication respectively. Majority of the patients had suicidal intent
followed by accidental ingestion reported mainly in children. Few patient required intensive care
admissions rest all were managed in general ward depicting mild severity of poisoning in majority
of the patients. Three patients were brought dead to hospital secondary to opoid overdose and one
patient died in hospital who had pesticide ingestion complicated by ventilator associated
pneumonia. The less mortality in this study was likely due to mild severity of poisoning, early gut
lavage and easy access to hospital. The effects of poisoning on the human body are negative
regardless of the agents or method used and this has an impact on the treatment and outcome. Due
consideration must be given to clinical, toxicological and epidemiological profiles. Therefore
precise and prompt diagnosis, adequate treatment and effective preventative efforts are required.
This study highlighted the importance of awareness and for the establishment of poison information
centre for the better management and prevention of all poisoning cases.
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