title: Pattern of acute organophosphorus poisoning at University of Gondar Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the apparent benefits of organophosphate compounds (OPCs) acute organophosphate (OP) pesticide poison is an increasing problem worldwide. In a country like Ethiopia, where agriculture is a major component of the economy, these compounds are readily available to the general public. There is paucity of evidence from Ethiopia showing the pattern of organophosphate poisoning (OPP) in healthcare facilities. The objective of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the pattern of acute OPP at the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital in northwest Ethiopia, during September 2010 through December 2014 was conducted. Data was collected through chart review of patients who were admitted due to poisoning. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Organophosphate poisoning in University of Gondar teaching hospital accounts for about 38.46% of all emergency room admissions for poisoning. Out of the 90 cases studied 60% (54) were women, with male to female ratio of 1:1.5. The mean age of the patients was 25.5 with a standard deviation of 9.45. 56.7% of the cases studies lived in an urban environment compared to 43.3% who lived rurally. In the vast majority of patients, 90% (81) patients had ingested OP as an act of suicide. Regarding the route of exposure, oral ingestion was most common in suicidal cases (88.9%). The elapsed time between the time of poison ingestion and the start of the treatment, ranged from 13 min to 1 day. Health care professionals' useds decontamination methods such as gastric lavage and activated charcoal (45.6%) and 36.7% use atropine for OPP treatment. The mean hospital stay was 0.74 days. In the present study family problems were a leading cause of suicides and accounted for 45.8% of all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a developing nation who economy relies heavily on agriculture, Ethiopia continues to have OP compounds remain a common cause of acute poisonings. This is particularly concerning for younger generation who have high rates of OPP and whose numbers continue to raise. This data suggests that it is essential to strengthen Ethiopians regulatory policy concerning the availability of OPCs. Additionally, it will be important to design an appropriate health education program for the prevention of both suicidal and accidental OPPs for the benefit of the public at large.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, P. O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. getnet.mequanint@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Getnet Mequanint
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Adinew
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, P. O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Assefa Belay
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Asrie
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, P. O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Eshetie Melese
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Birru
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001285:Atropine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D005751:Gastric Lavage / Q000379:methods; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D002606:Charcoal; D001285:Atropine
keywords: Antidote; Atropine; Management; Organophosphate; Poisoning