Mortality Indicators of Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning: Experience at DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi

Objective: To note the association of gender, age, time interval between poisoning and hospital presentation, number of pills ingested, at presentation shock and use of pills from freshly opened container with mortality in ALP (wheat pill) poisoning. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study patients managed with diagnosis of wheat pill poisoning at DHQ Hospital, Rawalpindi were included consecutively. Age, gender, time interval between poisoning and hospital presentation, number of pills taken, poisoning from a freshly opened container or not, shock at presentation or not, were noted in addition to the outcome (alive or expired). Chi-square and t test were used as test of significance. Results: Forty six patients were included in the study. Mean patient age was 25.67±8.69 years. 52% (n=24) patients expired. Significantly higher mortality was noted in males (p value 0.04), patients who took pills from freshly opened container (p value 0.001) and patients who had shock at hospital presentation (p value 0.001). Age, number of pills taken, and time elapsed between poisoning and hospital presentation did not affect mortality significantly. Conclusion: Male gender, poisoning from freshly opened container of ALP pills, and shock at hospital presentation are indicators of poor outcome in ALP poisoning patients.