Determinants of Poison-related Mortality in Tertiary Care Hospital, South India.

Aims and background: Acute poisoning is one of the most common emergencies in India and around the world. Understanding the factors associated with mortality can aid us in devising appropriate preventive strategies to curtail deaths due to poisoning. Purpose of this study is to find various factors that determine the mortality among acute poisoning cases admitted in a tertiary care center. Materials and methods: A retrospective hospital records-based study was conducted at Chengalpattu Medical College Hospital. The study included 2,123 cases of various poisoning cases admitted for a year from January to December 2022. Cases of bites, stings, drowning, and hanging were excluded. Information on sociodemographic profile, type of poison, time since ingestion and admission, and treatment outcome were collected using a structured pro forma. Results: The mean age of the study population was 29.90 ± 14.98 years. Poisoning was found to be predominantly among males (56.42%) and residents of rural areas (58%). Insecticide consumption (27.0%) was the most common modality, followed by oleander poisoning (20%), corrosive poison (17%), rat poison (15%), tablet poison (13%), and other poisons. The overall case fatality rate (CFR) was 5.2%, with the highest CFR of 12.25% with insecticide poisoning. In multivariate analysis, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score at admission is the only parameter showing a statistically significant association with mortality (adjusted odds-ratio 0.271(0.2-0.38, p-value < 0.01). Conclusion: Acute poisoning primarily affects the young and economically productive population. In the south Indian population, pesticides are still the major contributor though corrosives are a major contributor among children. Mortality is still significant, and GCS status admission is the only predictor of mortality. How to cite this article: Krishnasamy N, Narmadhalakshmi R, Parameshwari P, Jayalakshmi R, Lokesh R, Jayanthi R, et al. Determinants of Poison-related Mortality in Tertiary Care Hospital, South India. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(4):329-335.

Paradigm shift in pattern and prevalence of poisoning during COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To assess the pattern, prevalence and outcome of poisoning cases reporting to hospital in North India during COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: An observational, prospective study was conducted for 100 patients reporting to medical emergency with history of poisoning intake from April 2020 to January 2021. Age range was 14-85 years. Obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistics and results were expressed as percentage and mean. Results: Out of 100 patients (77M, 33F), mean age of 32.6 years, most cases belong to age group of 20-30 years and 50% were matriculates and majority of the patients belonged to Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The most common poisoning agents consumed were corrosives (34%) followed by Aluminium Phosphide (24%). Respiratory distress (53%), loss of consciousness (43%), acute kidney injury (36%) were the common clinical presentations. PSS (Poisoning Severity Score) was moderate in 52% of patients, severe in 14%, fatal in 16% and minor PSS in 18% of patients. 16 patients with fatal PSS and 16 patients with moderate to severe PSS got expired. High mortality of 33% was seen in our study. Conclusions: The most vulnerable group in our study was of young males in age group of 21-30 years and less educated, who had lost their jobs due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Corrosives were the most commonly consumed poison during lockdown. Our study found that scoring systems PSS and GCS were good assessment tools for degree of severity of poisoning at an early stage.

[Acute poisoning by chemical products: analysis of the first 15 years of the Spanish Toxic Surveillance System (SETv)]. / Intoxicaciones agudas por productos químicos: análisis de los primeros 15 años del Sistema Español de Toxicovigilancia (SETv).

OBJECTIVE: There are few epidemiological studies on acute poisonings from pesticides, industrials and household products in Spain. The objective of this work is to describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of acute poisonings by chemical products in our country, and analyze their annual evolution. METHODS: The Spanish Toxicovigilance System (SETv) is a prospective registry that includes 32 Emergency Departments and Intensive Care Units in Spain. An observational descriptive study of acute poisoning by chemical agents (excluding pharmacological products and illicit drugs) was carried out, within 1999-2014. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square or exact Fisher's tests. Non-parametric continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. P-value less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The 10,548 cases studied had a mean age of 38.41 (±22.07) years, being significantly higher in women (p=0.0001). 67.7% of the poisonings occurred at home, and the most frequent routes of exposure were respiratory (48.3%), digestive (35.3%) and ocular (13.1%). The most frequent toxic groups were toxic gases (31%), caustics (25.6%) and irritant gases (12.1%). Of the patients that required treatment (76.2%), antidotes were used in 27.2%. 20.6% of the patients were admitted at Hospital, with a median stay of 32 (±151.94) days, with significant differences for pesticides and solvents (p=0.02). Sequelae were presented at discharge in 2.1% of patients. Mortality was 1.4% (146 patients) with a mean age of 62.08 years (±19.58) (p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction of chemical poisonings should be prevented in the domestic environment, taking into account the sources of exposure to carbon monoxide and the handling of household cleaning products, both caustic liquids and the generation of irritating gases when mixed.

OBJETIVO: Existen pocos estudios epidemiológicos, sobre todo de tipo multicéntrico, sobre las intoxicaciones agudas a causa de productos químicos agroindustriales y del hogar en España. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir el perfil epidemiológico y clínico de estas intoxicaciones en nuestro país, y analizar su evolución temporal. METODOS: El Sistema Español de Toxicovigilancia (SETv) es un registro prospectivo que incluye a 32 Servicios de Urgencias y Unidades de Cuidados intensivos de España. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo observacional de las intoxicaciones agudas por agentes químicos (excluyendo drogas y fármacos) en sus primeros 15 años de funcionamiento (1999-2014). Las comparaciones de proporciones se realizaron mediante las pruebas de Chi-cuadrado o exacta de Fisher, y entre pares de grupos independientes con la prueba de Mann-Whitney. Se consideraron significativos los valores de probabilidad menores de 0,05. RESULTADOS: Los 10.548 casos estudiados presentaban una edad media de 38,41 (±22,07) años, siendo significativamente superior en las mujeres (p=0,0001). El 67,7% de las intoxicaciones ocurrieron en el hogar, y las vías de entrada más frecuentes fueron la respiratoria (48,3%), la digestiva (35,3%) y la ocular (13,1%). Los grupos tóxicos más frecuentes fueron los gases tóxicos (31%), los cáusticos (25,6%) y los gases irritantes (12,1%). Un 76,2% de los casos requirieron tratamiento (27,2% con antídotos). Ingresó en un centro hospitalario un 20,6% de las personas, con una estancia media de 32 (±151,94) días, con diferencias significativas para los plaguicidas y disolventes (p=0,02). Presentaron secuelas al alta un 2,1%. La mortalidad fue del 1,4% (146 pacientes), con una edad media de 62,08 años (±19,58; p=0,0001). CONCLUSIONES: En las intoxicaciones por productos químicos, las medidas preventivas deben centrarse fundamentalmente en el ámbito doméstico, controlando las fuentes de exposición al monóxido de carbono y la manipulación de los productos de limpieza, fundamentalmente los líquidos cáusticos y la generación de gases irritantes al mezclarlos.

Gender based differences in patients of poisoning managed at a Medical Unit.

Poisoning is a nationwide hazard. This was a cross-sectional observational study carried out from 2016 to 2017 focused on indoor patients of poisoning at the District Headquarters Hospital, Rawalpindi. We studied the gender-based differences in patients of poisoning to decipher information related to poisoning in which we noted eight variables. For the study 180 patients were included of which 54.4% were males and the rest females. Married patients outnumbered unmarried patients - 70.7% females and 50.2% males. The mean age was 30±12.9 and 27±12.6 respectively. Patients were predominantly of urban residence (56.1% & 52.4% respectively). Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) was the most common intent among both genders, 81.7% in females and 72.4% among the males in contrast to accidental poisoning which was 23.5% in males and 18. 3 % in females. Aluminum-phosphide, organophosphates, snakebite and corrosive intake were the most common form of poisonings. Unknown causes of poisoning were found significantly more in males (P=0.001), while corrosive intake was more common among the females (P=0.002). Mean duration of hospitalisation for all was 4.22±3.5 days. Out of the 180 patients of poisoning, 18% expired as a result. Conclusively, among married women poisoning is more significant, homicidal poisoning is exclusive to males and corrosive poisoning is predominant in females.

Irritants and corrosives.

This article reviews toxic chemicals that cause irritation and damage to single and multiple organ systems (corrosion) in an acute fashion. An irritant toxic chemical causes reversible damage to skin or other organ system, whereas a corrosive agent produces irreversible damage, namely, visible necrosis into integumentary layers, following application of a substance for up to 4 hours. Corrosive reactions can cause coagulation or liquefaction necrosis. Damaged areas are typified by ulcers, bleeding, bloody scabs, and eventual discoloration caused by blanching of the skin, complete areas of alopecia, and scars. Histopathology should be considered to evaluate questionable lesions.