Five year (2013-2017) trends in poisoning among patients of the Buea Regional Hospital, South-West Region (Cameroon)

Millions of people suffer from poisoning worldwide and some die because of complications. The aim of this study was to assess five-year trends in poisoning among patients referred to the Buea Regional Hospital. Data was collected from records in the Emergency Unit, in records from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2017, using a form designed for the purpose. A total of 335 cases of poisoning were recorded. Twenty-nine (29) types of poisoning agents were recorded; the highest percentage was dog bite (23.28%), followed by food poisoning (18.81%). There was a temporal dynamic in poisoning as the year 2015 had the highest number of cases with percentage of 25.38% while the year 2014 had the lowest number of cases with a percentage of 13.44%. Moreover, the gender was not associated with poisoning as the percentage in males (50.15%) was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from the percentage in females (49.85%). Besides that, the gender did not determine poisoning circumstances (P > 0.05) even though more female were concerned with suicide attempts. Accidental poisoning was significantly (P < 0.001) more common (86.27%) than suicide attempts (13.73%). Based on the marital status, single patients were significantly (P < 0.001) more affected (65.97%) as compared to married ones (34.03%). Additionally, the frequency varied significantly (P > 0.001) in terms of patient's occupation with unemployed being the most affected group (63.28%) as compared to workers (36.72%). Based on ages, the age group (16-30 years) was the most affected (40.90%). Fortunately, the percentage of healed cases (97.91%) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the percentages of cases reported dead (2.09%); nevertheless, chronic signs such as immune suppression, cancer, mutation and reduction of reproductive capacities may appear many years later. Inevitably, more studies on poisoning should be made; this will raise the necessity to sensitize populations on poisoning and the need to create poison management centres.