Bengal Physician Journal

Register      Login

VOLUME 11 , ISSUE 2 ( May-August, 2024 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Patterns and Characteristics of Poisoning in Patients Admitted to a Peripheral Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India: A Record-based Observational Study

Rajat K Goswami, Shambo S Samajdar, Shatavisa Mukherjee

Keywords : Epidemiology, Organophosphate, Poisoning, Public health

Citation Information : Goswami RK, Samajdar SS, Mukherjee S. Patterns and Characteristics of Poisoning in Patients Admitted to a Peripheral Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India: A Record-based Observational Study. Bengal Physician Journal 2024; 11 (2):70-72.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10070-8048

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 06-07-2024

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Poisoning represents a significant public health concern globally, with varying epidemiology based on regional socioeconomic conditions, cultural practices, and healthcare accessibility. This study aimed to elucidate the patterns, demographics, and outcomes of different types of poisoning in a peripheral tertiary care hospital in India. Materials and methods: A retrospective, record-based observational study was conducted over 12 months, including 66 patients with poisoning, excluding drug abuse, insect, and snakebites. Demographics and clinical data were analyzed using SPSS, and confidentiality was maintained in line with ethical standards. Results: The study found a female predominance in poisoning cases (77%), with a mean patient age of 28.2 years. Organophosphate (OP) poisoning was most common (45.45%), followed by kerosene (10.47%) and unidentified drug poisoning (9.30%). The overall mortality was 10.6 and 7.5% of patients were referred to a higher-level center for advanced care. Conclusion: The prevalence of OP and kerosene poisoning underscores the need for increased public awareness and improved storage and handling practices. The higher incidence among females and significant referral rates to Tertiary Care Centers indicate a need for targeted preventive strategies and improved primary care management.


PDF Share
  1. World Health Organization. International Programme on Chemical Safety: Poisoning Prevention and Management. Available from: http://www.who.int/ipcs/poisons/en/.
  2. National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India. Chapter 1: Accidents in India. 2014. Available from: http://www.ncrb.gov.in/StatPublications/ADSI/ADSI2014/chapter-1%20accidents.pdf.
  3. National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India. Chapter 1: Accidents in India. 2015. pp. 191. Available from: http://www.ncrb.gov.in/StatPublications/ADSI/ADSI2015/adsi-2015-full-report.pdf.
  4. Chary RS, Suraj S, Mittal C, et al. Study of poisoning trends in South India: A perspective in relation to Indian statistics. J Indian Soc Toxicol 2017;13:21–26.
  5. Haloi M, Haloi MD, Patowary A. Death due to poisoning in district of Kamrup, Assam. A medico-legal study. J Indian Acad Forensic Med 2013;35:17–20.
  6. Singh B, Kishore K, Chaudhary AK. Epidemiological profile of complete suicidal poisoning cases autopsied at Autopsy centre, RIMS, Ranchi. Int J Med Toxicol Forensic Med 2017;7(1):32–42. DOI: 10.22037/ijmtfm.v7i1(Winter).13190.
  7. Thomas M, Anandan S, Kuruvilla PJ, et al. Profile of hospital admissions following acute poisoning–experiences from a major teaching hospital in south India. Adverse Drug React Toxicol Rev 2000;19(4):313–317. PMID: 11212461.
  8. Bamathy B, Punnagai K, Amritha CA, et al. Incidence and patterns of acute poisoning cases in an emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. Biomed Pharmacol J 2017;10(4):1285–1291. DOI: 10.13005/bpj/1231.
  9. Gargi J, Tejpal HR, Rai G, et al. A retrospective autopsy study of poisoning in the northern region of Punjab. J Punjab Acad Forensic Med Toxicol 2008;8(2):17–19. Available from: https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:70680107.
  10. Jesslin J, Adepu R, Churi S. Assessment of prevalence and mortality incidence due to poisoning in a south Indian tertiary care teaching hospital. Indian J Pharm Sci 2010;72(5):587–591. DOI: 10.4103/0250-474X.78525.
  11. Chatterjee S, Verma VK, Hazra A, et al. An observational study on acute poisoning in a tertiary care hospital in West Bengal, India. Perspect Clin Res 2020;11(2):75–80. DOI: 10.4103/picr.PICR_181_18.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.