ABSTRACT
Background: Poison exposure is a major health problem. It represents a main cause of acute medical illness in developed countries and one of the main causes of mortality in developing countries.
Objective: This study done to assess the pattern of acute poisoning with drugs, chemicals and natural toxins in both adults and children in Aswan governorate, Egypt.
Subject & Methods: The study was conducted prospectively at Aswan University Hospital from 1st of June 2017 to 31st of December 2017.
Results: This study included 3841 acute poisoned cases presented to ED. There were 31.08% young adults, 25.15% school- children and 14.79% preschool children. Number of males with toxic exposure was 2035 while that of females was 1806. Animal envenomation was the most common cause of poisoning in adults and children. 3708 patients were managed in and released from the emergency department and 129 patients were hospitalized and admitted to internal medicine department. The mortality rate was (0.14%) only. Animal stings was predominant in male than female patients, while poisoning with chemicals and drugs was predominant in female than males.
Conclusion: Exposure to poisons is still a significant cause of morbidity. Regarding the high prevalence of animal envenomation in children and adults, implementation of legislation to safeguard against these animals and availability of specific anti-venom is recommended.