A STUDY ON CLINICAL PATTERN AND OUTCOME OF ACUTE POISONING AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KARNATAKA.

Background: Acute poisoning is a major health problem with significant morbidity and mortality affecting people of all age groups. Acute poisoning approximately constitutes 10% admissions in medical emergency departments in India. Objective: Present study was aimed at finding out the clinical pattern and outcome of acute poisoning at a tertiary care hospital, Karnataka. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over a period of 18 months. Information like name of poisonous substances, mode of poisoning, investigation reports and outcome was collected in the pre-structured proforma and analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 100 acute poisoning cases, 49 were males and 51 females. Most common age group involved was 21-30 years of age (38%). Organophosphate poisoning was the most common type of poisoning. Mortality was highest in paraquat poisoning (100%). Overall mortality was 15%. Conclusion: Current study showed increase in incidence of poisoning in younger generation. Organophosphate poisoning was the most common type of poisoning. Low cost and easy accessibility of OP compounds may be one of the reasons. Rat poisoning, usage of household cleansing agents and corrosive poisons (paraquat) are also in increasing trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]