Four-Year Study on Acute Poisoning Cases Admitted to a Tertiary Hospital in Bangladesh: Emerging Trend of Poisoning in Commuters

Background:The pattern of poisoning has a regional variability. This study was carried out to describe the epidemiological profile of acute poisoning in northeastern Bangladesh and to evaluate the mortality. Methods:In this retrospective cross-sectional study, medical records of poisoned patients treated at department of medicine of Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh during 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2011 were reviewed. Patients aged 10 years and above with diagnosis of acute poisoning were included. Data collected were gender, age, place of residence, type of poison and intention of poisoning. Results:A total of 4435 (58.7% men) were included. Patients aged 21 to 30 years were the most common age group involved with poisoning (41.6%). The majority of patients (55.4%) lived in rural areas. Commuter poisoning (43.3%) was the most frequently occurring type of poisoning in both men and women in all 4 years followed by OP poisoning (25.7%). Men were found to be significantly more affected in commuter, organophosphate and alcohol poisoning (P < 0.001). Intention of poisoning in the greatest number of patients (54.5%) was suicidal followed by 1919 patients (43.3%) who were poisoned by homicidal/stupefying intents. Among the homicidal cases, men were significantly more victimized (67% vs. 33%, P < 0.001). Overall, 224 patients (5.1%) died. The highest number of deaths was due to OP poisoning (46.9%) followed by commuter poisoning (45.5%). Case fatality rate was the highest in the snakebite victims (23.3%) followed by alcohol poisoning (11.4%). Conclusion:Commuter or travel-related poisoning is an emerging public health threat in this part of Bangladesh. Public awareness should be raised and school-based educational programs should be emphasized regarding the commuter poisoning and the consequence of accepting and eating food from strangers.