Clinicoepidemiology and Management of Acute Poisoning at a Tertiary Care Hospital's Emergency Department

Abstract

Poison is described as any agent that could harm, kill, or impair everyday physiological features in humans, inflicting standard or nearby harm or disorder within the body [1]. Since the beginning of time, poisoning deaths have been documented. The Ebers papyrus (circa 1500 B.C.) contains information about many recognized poisons, including hemlock (the state poison of the Greeks), aconite (a Chinese arrow poison), opium, and metals such as lead, copper, and antimony. There are several references to poisons and their use as means of suicide or as weapons for homicide in the literature of ancient Greece [2-3]. Although its nature and the related morbidity and mortality differ from nation to nation, poisoning is a significant issue everywhere in the world [4]. Poisoning is a global medical and social problem. Acute poisoning (AP) is a common reason for visits to emergency departments and hospitalizations worldwide, as well as a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Understanding the epidemiology of poisoning and its changes is critical for both emergency physicians and public health practitioners [5-6]. Intentional or accidental poisoning is both possible. Unintentional poisoning happens when a person consumes or administers a drug without intending to hurt others. In contrast, intentional poisoning results from the consumption or administration of a substance to cause harm. Due to changes in human lifestyle and social behavior, there are more occurrences of poisoning on the rise [7]. As a result of recent advances in chemical technology, a significant number of new compounds used in trade, industry, and medicine have been classified as poisonous substances. In the developing world, the case fatality rate for self-poisoning is typically 10–20%, but for specific pesticides, it can be as high as 50–70%.  The causes of the high case fatality rate are multifactorial, but they include the high toxicity of locally available poisons, difficulties in transporting patients across long distances to hospitals, a limited supply of healthcare workers in comparison to a large number of patients, and a lack of facilities, antidotes, and training for the management of pesticide-poisoned patients [2-8].