Organophosphate pesticide poisoning in 50 Ethiopian patients.

Organophosphate pesticide poisoning in 50 patients treated at the Tikur Anbessa Hospital over a period of 6 years is described. Most of the cases were attempted suicide (94%). The majority of the patients presented with the typical clinical features of Parasympathetic overactivity. Atropine was the mainstay of treatment. Mortality from organophosphate pesticide poisoning was 20%. There is a strong need to device a national system of control of pesticides and educate the public about the dangers of pesticides.