A Clinico-Epidemiological Study of Poisoning among Commuters: Is There any Substance Abuse?

Background: poisoning among commuters is becoming a major health hazard day by day in bangladesh. few studies were done in bangladesh regarding this problem. the study aims at describing the clinico-epidemiological features of patients with suspected intentional poisoning during travel for robbery.method: this was a prospective observational study, conducted in medicine department of chittagong medical college hospital, bangladesh during march 2010 to september 2010. 40 patients were selected. out of whom, 15 who had gcs < 8 at presentation were selected for urine analysis by detection kits for a few substances in the urine. detailed demographic data were collected from the informant in a structured case report form. clinical examination of the patient was done at presentation and urine was collected in selected patients. routine patient follow-ups were carried out and the outcome was recorded.results: victims were males of 31.23±7.6 years age, most of whom were married (80%), and businessmen (40%). most of them were brought to hospital by their relatives (80%). their financial loss by the incidence did not exceed 50,000 tk (i.e., 18937 tk). they were mainly from middle class family, usually poisoned by beverage (55%), food (30%), and inhalation (5%). most of them presented with unconsciousness (75%), having gcs 10 on average. their pupils usually remained constricted bilaterally (75%) with intact light reflex in 35% of the cases. there was no papilledema, and cranial nerves were usually intact in those who could be examined (25%). patients were usually depressed with absent planter reflex (70%) or flexor (30%). within 2.5 days, most of them could walk without support and could be discharged. there was neither any case fatality reported or any long term disability recorded. only 7.5% of the patients had substance examined by kit in their urine.conclusion: we can come to the conclusion that people who carried money on themselves were victimized by the miscreant and they usually used a substance which had a short onset of action and which could sedate people for a short time with depressive neurological findings.