Zimbabwe poisoning

Nhachi C, Kasilo O. 1994. Household chemicals poisoning admissions in Zimbabwe main urban centers. Human and Experimental Toxicology 13(2) 69-72. 

Organophosphate poisonings are a particular problem in poorer countries, where lax controls, poor protective measures, and other problems contribute to exposure. The African country of Zimbabwe has experienced an epidemic of such poisonings, with a mortality rate from reported instances of around 8%.11 About three fourths of the adult poisonings were the result of suicide attempts, whereas poisoning in young children was predominantly from accidental ingestion. 

Ball DE, Tagwireyi D, Nhachi CF. Chloroquine poisoning in Zimbabwe a toxicoepidemiological study. J Appl Toxicol 2002 22(5) 311-15. 

In a retrospective study of 2764 poisoning cases admitted to eight urban hospitals in Zimbabwe between 1998 and 1999, 7% of all cases and 13% of aU deaths were related to traditional medicines (162). The authors noted that these figures were markedly lower than those from a similar survey 10 years earher. 

Tagwireyi D, Ball DE, Nhachi CF. Poisoning in Zimbabwe a survey of eight major referral hospitals. J Appl Toxicol 2002 22(2) 99-105. 

Males predominate in the group with herbal induced AKI. This observation is supported by a report from Zimbabwe describing the pattern of poisoning from traditional medicines in that country [20]. Apparently men resort to taking muthi because it is perceived as being manly and also because they have easier access to the sangomas than do women. 

Bulb decoctions of Boophone disticha are used by the Zulu to treat headaches, chest and bladder pains and hysteria. The Sotho and Xhosa use bulbs as a dressing for circumcision and narcotics while the leaves are used for the treatment of skin diseases. Khai and San people use bulbs as arrow poison (43, 44, 45). In Zimbabwe, the bulb is used for constipation, bums, oedema, wounds, rash, dizziness and lucky charms (46). 

A retrospective study of poisoning admissions to the six major referral hospitals in Zimbabwe over a 10-year period (1980-1989) revealed 6018 cases. The main cause (23%) was from acute poisoning by traditional medicines. Total mortality was 15%, with traditional medicines being the second highest canse of fatalities 80). 

Kasilo OMJ and Nhachi CFB. The pattern of poisoning from traditional medicines in urban Zimbabwe. S Afr Med J 1992 82 187-188. 

Tagwircyi, D Bali, D., and Nhachi, C. (2004). Toxicocpidemiology in Zimbabwe Pesticide poisoning, Clin. Toxicol. 42,83. 

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