Pattern of Pre-Hospital Treatment Received by Cases of Pesticide Poisoning

Background: Prehospital treatment following acute pesticide poisoning is not optimal and mortality following such poisoning is high in Bangladesh. Method: It was a prospective study in which pattern of prehospital treatment received and outcome of pesticide poisoned patient were studied at one adult medical unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital from October 2005 to June 2006. Results: The number of cases of pesticide poisoning were 60 (1.98%) of 3030 admitted patients. The mean age was 24.7±8.8 years. Most of them (40, 66.7%) were male. The incidence of poisoning was high among students (11, 18.3%) and housewives (10, 16.7%). The most common cause of poisoning was intentional (55, 91.7%). Familial disharmony was underlying cause in 27 (45%) patients. More than half of the patients (41, 68.3%) purchased the poison self. 25 (41.7%) patients got first contact with physician within 30 minutes of poisoning. In majority cases (45, 75%) first contact health care provider was government hospital. Only 22 (36.7%) patients received first aid before arrival to present hospital. Among them, 19 (31.7%) patients received induced vomiting by ingestion of tamarind water or lemon water or soap water or putting finger or other substances (cow dung, human excreta etc.) in mouth and 3 (15%) patients received home remedy like milk, raw egg etc. The overall mortality was 16.7%. Conclusion: Measures should be taken to increase the awareness among general population regarding the first aid following pesticide poisoning.