Citation

Ssemugabo C, Halage AA, Neebye RM, Nabankema V, Kasule MM, Ssekimpi D, Jørs E. Environ. Health Insights 2017; 11: e1178630217728924.

Affiliation

Department of Occupational Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Libertas Academica)

DOI

10.1177/1178630217728924

PMID

28904524

PMCID

PMC5588792

Abstract

This study was aimed at assessing prevalence, circumstance, and management of acute pesticide poisoning in hospitals in Kampala. It was a retrospective cross-sectional study that involved reviewing of 739 poisoning patient records from 5 hospitals in Kampala. Of the 739 patients, 212 were due to pesticide poisoning resulting in a prevalence of 28.8%. About 91.4% (191/210) of the cases were due to organophosphate poisoning, 63.3% (133/210) were intentional, and 98.1% (206/210) were exposed through ingestion. Diagnosis was majorly based on poisoning history 91.2% (187/205), and clinical features such as airways, breathing, and circulation examination 48.0% (95/198); nausea and vomiting 42.9% (91/212); muscle weakness 29.7% (63/212); excessive salivation 23.1% (49/212); and confusion 20.3% (43/212). More than half of the patients admitted were treated using atropine 52.3% (113/212). The prevalence of acute pesticide poisoning was high with most managed based on physical and clinical examination.

Language: en

Keywords

Prevalence; diagnosis; management; pesticide; public and private; treatment