Introduction: The present study was done to describe the incidence, nature, severity, and treatment outcome trends associated with acute poisoning cases presenting to our hospital. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted by including patients who were admitted to the emergency department, Darbhanga Medical College, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga, Bihar, India with a clinical diagnosis of acute poisoning from January 2021 till June 2021. Their socio-demographic variables and poison comsumed was noted. Results: In the present study, 172 patients were included. Mean age of the patients was 27.45 years, ranging from 12 to 71 years. The sample consisted of 68% males and 61% were had an urban residence. Among all cases, 64% were suicidal cases and rest were accidental poisonings. Recovery and discharge were observed in 73%, 19% died (N=32) and 8% left against medical advice. The most common poison consumed was organophosphate (n=36). Next most common was methanol poisoning (n=27) and aluminium phosphide (n=22). Forty percent arrived at the hospital within 2 hours of poison consumption. It was observed that patients from older age group (p value < 0.05) and those presenting to the hospital after 4 to 6hours (p value < 0.05) were found to be associated with poor outcomes. Conclusions: Our study found that patients of older age group and those arriving late to the hospital were found to have significantly poor outcomes. Also, we observed high case fatality in poisonings with aluminium phosphide, organophosphate, phenyl and insecticides.

Introduction: The present study was done to describe the incidence, nature, severity, and treatment outcome trends associated with acute poisoning cases presenting to our hospital. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted by including patients who were admitted to the emergency department, Darbhanga Medical College, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga, Bihar, India with a clinical diagnosis of acute poisoning from January 2021 till June 2021. Their socio-demographic variables and poison comsumed was noted. Results: In the present study, 172 patients were included. Mean age of the patients was 27.45 years, ranging from 12 to 71 years. The sample consisted of 68% males and 61% were had an urban residence. Among all cases, 64% were suicidal cases and rest were accidental poisonings. Recovery and discharge were observed in 73%, 19% died (N=32) and 8% left against medical advice. The most common poison consumed was organophosphate (n=36). Next most common was methanol poisoning (n=27) and aluminium phosphide (n=22). Forty percent arrived at the hospital within 2 hours of poison consumption. It was observed that patients from older age group (p value < 0.05) and those presenting to the hospital after 4 to 6hours (p value < 0.05) were found to be associated with poor outcomes. Conclusions: Our study found that patients of older age group and those arriving late to the hospital were found to have significantly poor outcomes. Also, we observed high case fatality in poisonings with aluminium phosphide, organophosphate, phenyl and insecticides.