Prevalence and Patterns of Poisoning Cases among Patients Presented to Jimma University Specialized Hospital: A Five Years Retrospective Data Analysis

A poison is any substance that is harmful to the body when ingested, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through skin. Poisonings are either intentional or accidental. According to World Health Organization data, in 2004 Estimated 346,000 people died worldwide from unintentional poisoning. Epidemiological Data on this important health issues are scarce in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the pattern of poisonings and the approaches employed for the management of poisoning and outcomes of poisoning cases in Jimma University specialized hospital. A facility based cross sectional retrospective data analysis was done. The reviewed data includes patient’s medical record and additional laboratory data sets from January, 2010 to December 31, 2015. Majority of patients 186 (78.9%) were in the age group between 12-30 years and females were more affected (65.4%). The commonest poisoning agents used were household cleaning agents (40.4%) followed by Organophosphates (24%). Most cases (76.7%) were intentional exposures and most patients (96.1%) presented to hospital in the first 24 h and psychiatric referral was made for 49.8% of patients. Supportive cares and GI decontamination were the approaches employed for management. Intentional exposure accounted for the majority of cases. Linkage of patients with suicidal attempts to appropriate mental health service should be improved.