MAGNITUDE, CIRCUMSTANCE AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES OF ACUTE POISONING CASES PRESENTED TO WUSTH, 2024: A RETROSPECTIVE FOLLOW UP STUDY.

Abstract

Background: Acute poisoning is a common reason for visiting emergency department worldwide. However, little is known about this issue in most part of Ethiopia. This study was carried out to determine the magnitude, circumstance, and treatment outcome of acute poisoning at the ED of WUSTH. Objective: To assess magnitude, circumstance, treatment outcomes and associated factors in patients presenting with acute poisoning to WUSTH. Methods: A retrospective follow up study was conducted on magnitude, circumstance, treatment outcome and associated factors in patients presenting with acute poisoning to WUSTH from SEP 1, 2022-Oct 30, 2024. The study population consist of all patients seen at MEOPD and/or admitted with cases of acute poisoning during the study period. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The estimated sample size was 128. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select patient records. Data was collected from patients’ records and analysed using SPSS version 27.0; the result presented using tables. Descriptive statistics was conducted using frequency distributions along with multivariate logistic regression statistical model (with CI= 95% and P< 0.05). Results: The study included 116 acute poisoning cases of which 59.5% were females and 40.5% were males. 53.4% were single and 46.6% were married. Organophosphate poisoning accounted 50.9%, metallic phosphide 25%, 96.6% of cases were intentional. Social conflicts, psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse were reported as underlying comorbid condition accounting for 57.8%, 34.5% and 3.4% respectively. Clinical presentation of patients and type of poisoning had significant association (p<0.05) with treatment outcome of poisoning where those who presented with epigastric pain were shown to have a 99.5% less mortality than those who presented with altered mentation (AOR=0.005(0.00025-0.097), 95% CI, P<0.001) and those who presented with vomiting/diarrheic had 81% less mortality than those who had altered mentation up on presentation (AOR=0.19(0.001-0.27), 95% CI, P=0.003), and those patients poisoned by