Acute poisoning at University Hospital in Neiva, Colombia from 2005 to 2010

Abstract

In order to have a better understanding of the epidemiological pattern of poisoning in our area, a descriptive study, case series was carried out. For this purpose it was used the records from the database of Software SIVIGILA of patients classified as confirmed poisoning case from 2005 to 2010 in Hospital Universitario in Neiva. The variables included were: gender, age, origin, causality of poisoning, exposure route and type of causative agent. Data were recorded and processed with Epi Info 2008, version 3.5.1. The main results were: there were 1347 records of patients with acute poisoning. The average age was 23.4 ± 11.6. The main cause of poisoning was voluntary 76% (n = 1027) followed by accidental 18% (n = 236). The cases in urban areas were 65% (n = 875) and in rural areas pesticides, being the dominated group that of cholinesterase inhibitors, followed by drugs. The most frequent age group was 16 to 30 and no significant difference in both genders was found. In terms of origin, the municipalities with the highest number of cases were Neiva, Pitalito and Palermo. It is concluded that there is an increasing trend of poisoning in the last 5 years, predominantly in voluntary intoxication in adolescents and young adults, coming mainly from urban areas and being pesticides the most used causative agent.