Anticholinesterase poisoning in Turkey--clinical, laboratory and radiologic evaluation of 269 cases.

A retrospective study was conducted on 269 patients with anticholinesterase poisoning who had been admitted to the Internal Medicine and Pediatric Clinics over the past 10 years. Their ages ranged from 17 d to 62 years. In adults, suicide was the most common means of intoxication. Miosis was the most frequent symptom and was seen in 80.66% of the patients. Hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia, hypokalaemia, hyperkalaemia, hyperchloraemia, hypochloraemia and hyponatraemia were among the electrolytic and haematologic disorders (hyperglycaemia 48.00%, hypoglycaemia 6.40%). There were also electrocardiographic abnormalities. Asthma, although usually a late complication, was also noted at the beginning of treatment. Mortality rates were 8.98% for children and 9.6% for adults. Since hypoglycaemia was found in all the patients who died, it was accepted as an ominous prognostic sign. We think that anticholinesterase poisoning is an important health problem in our country. It is much less common in developed than semi-developed countries, and a complete understanding of it is essential for the emergency physician.