Pilot Survey on Cases of Poisoning and its Outcome in Different Category of Hospitals in Bangladesh

Anisul Awwal,M Abdus Sattar,M Robed Amin,Ma Faiz,Ma Jalil,Md Abul Kashem Khandaker,Rabiul Islam,Rafiqul Hasan

doi:10.3329/jom.v10i3.2010

Abstract

Poisoning and snakebite are commonly encountered emergency situation in Bangladesh. Morbidity per annum reported from static primary health care set up and district hospitals following poisoning are ~ 0.56% of total morbidity. Reports published from the DGHS in 2001 recorded poisoning as fifteenth cause of morbidity & second commonest cause of death second to acute respiratory tract infection (1956). Common poisoning encountered in the community include pesticide poisoning, kerosene poisoning, poisoning by unknown sedative substances for stupefying purpose and with occasional reports of methanol poisoning, aluminium phosphide poisoning, copper sulphate poisoning and puffer fish poisoning. A change in the trends of poisoning particularly âtravel related' poisoning by sedatives instead of previously used âDhatura' have been found in the country. Â doi:10.3329/jom.v10i3.2010 J Medicine 2009; 10 (Supplement 1): 15-17

Highlights

Poisoning and snakebite are commonly encountered emergency situation in Bangladesh
The pattern of poisoning varied in major types of poisoning: in OPC poisoning 65% patients were male, and had a motive of self harm in 88.4% cases; in kerosene poisoning most of the victims were relatively young children, mean age 4.5 years, and the poisoning was accidental in nature
In order to make sensible use of pesticide each country should have a limited number of such agents and much public health awareness are needed for reducing deaths

Summary

Introduction

Poisoning and snakebite are commonly encountered emergency situation in Bangladesh. Morbidity per annum reported from static primary health care set up and district hospitals following poisoning are ~ 0.56% of total morbidity. In one tertiary care hospital alone, Chittagong Medical College Hospital more than 1000 cases of poisoning and 400 cases of snakebite were reported in one year, 2002.2 0ne hundred ten cases of death following poisoning were reported from the same hospital in 2001.3 Available information gathered through two studies, one of them sponsored by the World Health Organization, demonstrated around 8000 cases of snake bite with 20% deaths-one of the highest record of the world. Prospective information through recording of cases could detect number and death of cases of poisoning in Bangladesh. In this communication an attempt was made to document all cases of poisoning attending different category of limited number of hospitals in Bangladesh for a defined period

Methods

Results

Conclusion