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Background: In developing countries, the substances most commonly used for self-poisoning are agricultural pesticides including rodenticides. Authors aimed to assess the clinical status and outcomes of patients with rodenticide poisoning in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: This retrospective record-based study was carried over three years. Apart from demographic details, information regarding the time of ingestion, nature and amount of the compound. Other details included clinical features, complications, treatment and outcome of the patient. Descriptive analysis was carried out by the mean and standard deviation for quantitative variables, frequency and proportion for categorical variables.Results: Of the 120 study subjects, 85 (93.40%) participants self-harmed, 2 (2.20%) were homicidal, and 4 (4.40%) had accidentally consumed the rodenticide. About 52 (32.70%) participants had vomiting, 34 (21.38%) had giddiness, 32 (20.13%) participants had abdominal pain. On the whole, 85 (73.28%) participants recovered, 23 (19.83%) participants had absconded, 6 (5.17%) participants had referred and 2 (1.72%) of them expired.Conclusions: Phosphorous compounds, particularly yellow phosphorous are the most lethal rodenticides followed by Coumadin. Symptomatic management of the patients at the earliest possible time is the mainstay, as there are no specific antidotes for any of the compounds.
RESUMO
Introduction: Rat killer paste (yellow phosphorous) is one of the most common forms of poisoning in South India. It causeshepatotoxicity. No specific antidote has been found. Recently, N-acetylcysteine is used as supportive therapy in many casesof acute liver failure.Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of early N-acetylcysteine in preventing the rat killer paste poisoning.Methods: Patients who ingested rat killer paste poison and age >12 years were included in the study. Patients having jaundice,liver disease, and age <12 years were excluded from the study.Results: Among 30 patients studied, five patients died, seven patients developed hepatitis, one patient developed acute kidneyinjury with hepatitis, and one patient developed hyponatremia.Conclusion: Early initiation of N-acetylcysteine had a significant impact in reducing mortality.
RESUMO
Poisoning is one of the commonest health problems in patients who present to Emergency Department, causing significant morbidity and mortality in them. The present study is aimed at assessing the incidence, clinical profile and outcome of poisoning patients admitted during a 2- month period of December 2016 - January 2017 in Government Royapettah Hospital, Chennai. 132 cases of acute poisoning in adults due to drugs and chemicals were included. Data on age, sex, type of poison, route of exposure, associated co-morbid conditions and outcome of poisoning were recorded and analysed by descriptive method. Among 132 cases, 90 cases were of intentional poisoning and 42 cases were of accidental poisoning. In all the cases the route of exposure was oral. The percentage of poisoning patients was equal in both males & females. Peak occurrence was in the age group 21-30 years. Rat killer was the commonest toxic agent. Associated comorbidities were found in 11 patients. The incidence of acute poisoning, morbidity and mortality can be substantially reduced by implementing effective strategies that prevent the easy availability of pesticides & over-the-counter medications.