PROFILE AND OUTCOME OF ACUTE POISONING CASES: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Background: In areas where pesticides, medications, household chemicals, and other hazardous substances are easily available, acute poisoning is a significant cause of ER visits, hospital admissions, morbidity, and mortality. Demographic, social, environmental, and healthcare-related factors all influence the epidemiological features and clinical results of poisoning. The demographic profile, clinical complications, treatment needs, hospitalization, and results of acute poisoning cases were all assessed in this study.

Methods: Using routinely accessible hospital data of patients with acute poisoning diagnoses, a retrospective observational analysis was carried out. A structured data collecting strategy was used to obtain information on age, sex, kind and intent of poisoning, exposure route and timing, clinical symptoms, complications, treatment approaches, critical care needs, length of hospital stay, and final clinical outcomes. The results were analyzed in conjunction with data from published hospital based research and a comprehensive analysis of the consequences of acute poisoning.

Results: According to the reviewed data, young and middle-aged adults were more likely to suffer from acute poisoning, and a significant percentage of these patients were male. The greatest age groups in a four-year hospital-based dataset of 4,435 cases were 21-30 years (41.6%) and 10-20 years (39.1%), with males accounting for 58.7% of cases and rural inhabitants for 55.4%. The most common reported situation was suicidal poisoning (54.5%), which was followed by accidental poisoning (2.2%) and homicidal/stupefying poisoning (43.3%). Reliable chemicals, organophosphate compounds, sedatives, rodenticides, and caustic materials were among the often encountered dangerous agents. Pneumonia (15.2%), intermediate syndrome (9.25%), tracheostomy (5.94%), and nosocomial infection (5.88%) were the main consequences, indicating severe clinical morbidity.

Conclusion: With a high frequency of purposeful exposure, serious respiratory problems, the need for urgent care, and inconsistent clinical results, acute poisoning constitutes a significant and diverse clinical and public health burden. Males, young adults, and people from rural or agricultural areas seem to be significant high-risk categories. Reducing complications and death requires early detection, quick hospital presentation, standardized emergency response, suitable breathing support, and prompt intensive-care referral.