Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON DIFFERENT POISONING CASES AND TREATMENT OUTCOME IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN DAKSHINA KANNADA

Joseline Dias, Nouhan Nazeer, Ramya Das, Riya Fathima V., Vineetha K., Thejaswini B*, A. R. Shabaraya

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Abstract

The definition of poison is "any solid, liquid, or gas that, if introduced into the living body or come into contact with any part of it, will cause ill health, death by its constitutional and local effects, or both". The poisoning cases that were admitted to Srinivas Hospital in Mukka, Dakshina Kannada, over the course of the six-month study period were examined using a prospective observational study. A specially designed data collection form was used to collect patient details focusing on demographics, types of poisoning, treatment outcomes, and associated factors among 99 patients enrolled into the hospital during the period of study. Demographic analysis reveals a male predominance (62.6%) with a peak incidence among adults aged 19-60 years. Intentional poisoning, notably by agricultural pesticides (48.5%) and household products (32.3%), predominates, highlighting significant public health concerns. Treatment outcomes underscore the critical impact of consciousness levels on mortality rates, with delayed hospital admission linked to poorer outcomes. Supportive care, including antimicrobials, gastroprotective agents, and antidotes, forms the cornerstone of management. Assessment tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale and Poisoning Severity Score aid in severity stratification, guiding intensive care interventions. This study underscores the need for prompt medical intervention, comprehensive supportive treatments, and targeted public health strategies to mitigate poisoning risks and improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: poison, demographics, patient, treatment, outcomes.