A profile of acute self drug poisoning: Our experience in a tertiary care medical college teaching hospital

Abstract

Background: Drug overdose can be accidental or deliberate posing a significant source of morbidity, mortality and health care burden. Drug over doses may be seen at any age and is particularly common among teenagers. It is estimated that approximately 2-3 million drug poisonings occur every year in the united states. In India the true incidence of self drugpoisoning is unknown due to under diagnosis and under reporting. Acute self drug poisoning is mostly due to benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antiepileptics and polypills containing NSAIDs. There is scarcity of data from the Indian subcontinent regarding the profile and outcome of patients presenting with acute self drug poisoning. We undertook this retrospective analysis to assess the course and outcome of such patients admitted in our tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods : This retrospective study was conducted between Jan 2008- Dec 2011 in the dept of medicine, Sri DevarajUrs Medical College,Kolar. The data retrieved from the medical records section was analyzed for 155 patients who were admitted with acute self poisoning for, type of poisoning, time of presentation, reason for the consumption of drugs, ICU admission if required and outcomes. Results: The majority were females 103 (66.4%) patients and 52 were males and majority 90 (58 %) of admissions were from age group 21 to 30 years. The most common drugs consumed was benzodiazepines 54(34.8%), followed by antiepileptics 41(26.4%), and poypills 33(21.3). Thirty (19.4%) consumed two or more drugs. Commonest cause for drug consumption was suicidal (90%), and was mainly oral. The highest incidence of toxicity was due to benzodiazipines (34.8%) followed by antiepileptics (26.4%). Ten patients(15.5%) required ICU management for ventilatory support and average stay was seven days. None of our patients in the study required ionotropes or dialysis. Conclusions: The present data is an insight of the trends in self drug poisoning in rural south India as a result of low socioeconomic status, illiteracy and easy availability of drugs over the counter. Therefore strict regulations enforced on the medical drug outlets with mental health awareness counselling/programmes can go a long way in curtailing this problem.