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The pattern of poisoning in urban zimbabwe
Author(s) -
Nhachi Charles F. B.,
Kasilo Ossy M. J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.2550120612
Subject(s) - medicine , toxicology , case fatality rate , environmental health , pesticide , legislation , population , biology , law , political science , agronomy
A 10‐year (1980 to 1989 inclusively) retrospective analysis of poisoning admissions to the six major referral hospitals in Zimbabwe revealed 6018 cases. The majority of the patients were aged 0–5 years (35%) and 21–30 years (22.6%). The main agents associated with acute poisoning were traditional medicines (22.9% of the total), household chemicals (18.8%, 13.2% of which was due to paraffin), snake and insect envenomation (17.1%), orthodox medicines (16.7%) and insecticides (14.8%, 10% of which is accounted for by organophosphates). Mortality was 15% and the main agents associated with fatality were pesticides, traditional medicines and orthodox medicines, in descending order. The prevention and treatment of intoxication caused by traditional and orthodox medicines, the proper storage and disposal of pesticides and legislation regulating their sale and distribution are of high priority in the fight to reduce poisoning caused by these agents.