The pattern of poisoning in urban Zimbabwe.

A 10-year (1980 to 1989 inclusively) retrospective analysis of poisoning admissions to the six major referral hospitals in Zimbabwe revealed 6018 cases. The majority of the patients were aged 0-5 years (35%) and 21-30 years (22.6%). The main agents associated with acute poisoning were traditional medicines (22.9% of the total), household chemicals (18.8%, 13.2% of which was due to paraffin), snake and insect envenomation (17.1%), orthodox medicines (16.7%) and insecticides (14.8%, 10% of which is accounted for by organophosphates). Mortality was 15% and the main agents associated with fatality were pesticides, traditional medicines and orthodox medicines, in descending order. The prevention and treatment of intoxication caused by traditional and orthodox medicines, the proper storage and disposal of pesticides and legislation regulating their sale and distribution are of high priority in the fight to reduce poisoning caused by these agents.