A study of patients with ammonia poisoning

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to determine the clinical course of ammonia poisoning admitted to North Okkalapa General Hospital after accidental burst of ammonia tank in ice factory of South Okkalapa Township. Total number of five patients were admitted to NOGH medical ward in Oct; 1993. All patients were suffering from conjunctivitis, keratitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis and pneumonitis. Among these five patients, only two patients had severe pneumonitis. All patients recovered but one patients had corneal opacity and two patients had persistant bronchitis. This figure was compared with other reports. Although it is a rare occupational hazard in Myanmar, we would like to alert all clinicians and persons concerned because our nation is trying to become an industrialized country.