ASPECTS OF ORTHODOX MEDICINES (THERAPEUTIC DRUGS) POISONING IN URBAN ZIMBABWE

1 A retrospective study (extending over 10 years, 1980 to 1989 inclusively) of hospital admission cases, due to therapeutic drug poisoning was carried out at the six main hospitals of Zimbabwe's four cities. 2 The four cities have a total population of approximately 4 million. 3 A total of 1061 cases were recorded and analysed. This constituted 16.7% of all poisoning admission cases (i.e. the fourth biggest cause of poisoning after traditional medicines, household chemicals and snake/insect venom). 4 Of the 1061 cases, 31% were aged 21-30 years, 21.9% were aged 11-20 years, 14.9% were aged under 5 years and 12.8% were aged 31-40 years. Those aged over 80 years accounted for only 0.6% of the cases. 5 The major groups of drugs implicated were: the analgesics, 22% of the total; sedatives and hypnotics, 13.2%; antipsychotics, 11.6%; antimalarials, 9.3%; antidepressants, 9.0%; antimicrobials, 7.5%; and alcohol, 7.1%. The other drugs each accounted for the less than 7%; the least used group were the gastrointestinal drugs which formed only 0.6% of the total. Poisoning due to drug abuse was cited at 1.3%. Overdose, either accidental or in the course of treatment, accounted for 63.5% of the cases. 6 The mortality rate was 3.9% and most of the deaths were suicides. 7 Treatment consisted mainly of the administration of ipecacuanha in those under 5 years old age and supportive therapy in adults. A few cases were given an antidote if it was specifically indicated.