A study of aluminium phosphide poisoning with special reference to its spot diagnosis by silver nitrate test.

A total of 45 cases of Aluminium phosphide poisoning were studied from December 1989 to November 1990. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) test was positive in gastric aspirate in all cases (100%) who took fresh tablets and negative in those who took exposed tablets. The test was also positive in breath but had a lower sensitivity. Majority of patients revealed ECG abnormalities.

Contraceptive pills and acute pancreatitis.

PIP: This article reports a case of acute pancreatitis in a patient taking the oral contraceptive pill. A 32 year old mother had been on combined contraceptive pills since 1975. In 1978 she started having upper abdominal and retrosternal pain. She became critically ill with peripheral circulatory collapse, dyspnoea and cyanosis. A superficial thrombophlebitis was noted on the medial aspect of the right thigh. The diagnosis of pancreatitis was considered with history of recurrent abdominal pain. After several tests and supportive therapy (intravenous fluids, antibiotics, steriods), the woman started showing improvements in 48 hours and recovered in 10 days. This case differs from previously described cases in that the cholesterol and triglyceride levels were normal. The hypoglycemia has not been described previously.^ieng

Pyogenic meningitis.

Fifty cases with pyogenic meningitis, aged 15 to 72 years, with a male:female ratio of 5:1, were studied. The majority of cases (70%) were in the 15 to 25 years age group. The organisms detected in the 29 culture-positive cases included S aureus (12), pneumococci (9) and meningococci (8). Thirteen patients died; the poor prognostic factors included old age, the presence of coma or shock, CSF sugar below 10 mg/dl or protein above 750 mg/dl and the presence of gram negative organisms in the CSF.