Examining Clinical Outcomes and Management Strategies in Wheat Pill Poisoning

Abstract

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the clinical presentation and management strategies of patients whodied from wheat pill poisoning.
Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Medicine in Divisional Headquarters teaching Hospital, Azad Kahmir, in which 12 deaths caused by wheat pill poisoning were analyzed. All patients who died from wheat pill poisoning from
October 2019 to October 2022 were included in study. The presenting symptoms, clinical findings, initial resuscitation, management and mode of death was recorded for all cases.
Results: A total of 12 cases were included, with a mean age of 27 ± 12.2 years. There were 2 males (16.6%) and 10 females (83.3%). The main presenting symptoms were vomiting (11 cases, 92%) and irritability (7 cases, 58%). Pre-existing psychiatric illness was present in
4 of the 12 cases (33%). The majority of the patients (92%) died within 48 hours of pill ingestion. In most cases, the mode of death was cardiac arrhythmias, with other modes including recalcitrant shock, metabolic acidosis, and myocardial infarction. Management
strategies included initial assessment of airway, breathing, and circulation, system management to stabilize symptoms and maintain cardiovascular function, and advanced treatments such as magnesium sulfate administration and considering hemodialysis in severe
cases.
Conclusion: The study found that among the 12 cases of wheat pill poisoning, the majority were young females, with high mortality rates primarily due to cardiac arrhythmias. Prompt hospital arrival and medical management are crucial, as most deaths occurred
within 48 hours of ingestion.