Prospective Study on Acute Poisoning Related Deaths in Menoufia Poisoning and Addiction Control Center (MPCC), Menoufia University Hospitals

Introduction: Acute poisoning is a common medical emergency that causes morbidity and mortality. Acute poisoning fatality is of medical, legal and social significance.
Aim of the work: The present work aimed at describing the demographic, characters of deaths due to acute poisoning (type and manner of poisoning), management and mechanism of death.
Subjects and Methods: Prospective study on deaths due to acute poisoning which admitted to MPCC through a period from 1-1-2015 to 31-12-2016. Cases were evaluated. The results were further studied by statistical tests.
Results: During the study period, 4,834 acute poisoned cases were admitted in MPCC. Among which 78 cases (1.6) % were died. The most common age of deaths was 7-18 years 41% followed, by age >18-30 years 33.3%. Females surpassed males (59%), students accounted 41% followed by farmers 23%. The majority of deaths were single and from rural areas. More than fifty percent of poisoned cases were due to Aluminum phosphide followed by insecticides 25%. Oral ingestion was the prominent method of intake 94.4%. Suicidal intention was more common than accidental cases (74.4 % versus 25.6%). Suicide was significantly common in females age groups (7-18) and (>18-30) years mainly in students and non- worker cases. . Metabolic acidosis was significantly correlated to Aluminum phosphide and insecticides, while hypoxia was significantly associated with Dormex and corrosive poisoning. ECG changes showed arrhythmia in Aluminum phosphide poisoning. Meanwhile bradycardia was associated to dormex and insecticides poisoning. Low blood cholinesterase level was significantly present in insecticides poisoned cases. There was significant relation to cardiac arrest as a cause of death to Aluminum phosphide cases.





Conclusion and recommendation: Suicide was significantly common in females age groups (7-18) and (>18-30) years mainly in students and non- worker cases. The majority of cases were single and from rural areas. Most commonly used agents are aluminum phosphide and insecticides. Cardiac arrest was the main cause of death in aluminum phosphide poisoned cases. The mortality due to poisoning can be reduced by conducting educational programs in rural areas, restrict the availability of aluminum phosphide and insecticides, keep pesticides away from easy to use for suicide and providing needy people by poison information danger.