Systematic Review of Human Poisoning and Toxic Exposures in Myanmar

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 7; p. 3576
• Main Authors: Cook, Meghan A, Jagpal, Pardeep S, Hnin Pwint, Khin, San, Lai Lai, Kyaw Thein, Saint Saint, Pyone, Thidar, Thit, Win Moh Moh, Bradberry, Sally M, Collins, Samuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 30.03.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Agrochemicals; Child; Collaboration; Developing countries; Displaced persons; Drug abuse; Economic development; Economic reform; Emergency response; Exposure; Female; Hazardous materials; Health hazards; Health risks; Heavy metals; Humans; Income; International regulations; LDCs; Methanol; Myanmar - epidemiology; Petroleum products; Poisoning; Poisoning - epidemiology; Public Health; Review; Reviews; Self-injury; Snake bites; Systematic review; Tropical diseases; Myanmar; Myanmar (Burma); poisoning; Myanmar; toxic
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073576

The International Health Regulations (2005) promote national capacity in core institutions so that countries can better detect, respond to and recover from public health emergencies. In accordance with the 'all hazards' approach to public health risk, this systematic review examines poisoning and toxic exposures in Myanmar. A systematic literature search was undertaken to find articles pertaining to poisoning in Myanmar published between 1998 and 2020. A number of poisoning risks are identified in this review, including snakebites, heavy metals, drugs of abuse, agrochemicals and traditional medicine. Patterns of poisoning presented in the literature diverge from poisoning priorities reported in other lower-middle income countries in the region. The experience of professionals working in a Yangon-based poison treatment unit also indicate that frequently observed poisoning as a result of pharmaceuticals, methanol, and petroleum products was absent from the literature. Other notable gaps in the available research include assessments of the public health burden of poisoning through self-harm, household exposures to chemicals, paediatric risk and women's occupational risk of poisoning. There is a limited amount of research available on poisoning outcomes and routes of exposure in Myanmar. Further investigation and research are warranted to provide a more complete assessment of poisoning risk and incidence.