Pattern of Poisoning Cases in a Tertiary Care Centre in South  India - An Observational study

Authors

James Rajesh J1 , Sampath Kumar P2 , Priyadarshee Pradhan3, Jothi Marie Feula A4 , Siva Reddy B5

Pattern of poison, economic poisons, poisoning causes, outcome of poisoning

Poison is any substance which when administered, inhaled or ingested is capable of causing deleterious

effects on the human body. This prospective study was carried out involving 353 cases of poisoning admitted

in Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute Porur, Chennai, during the period of June 2014-

June 2015. The demographic details were acquired from the patient, relatives, friends or the investigating

officer and by going through the medical records and the inquest report. In the current study the maximum

cases were in the age group of 20-29 years and the incidence decreased as the age increases and it was

evident that the incidence of poisoning is more in case of females when compared to males. The material of

maximum abuse was T.Alprazolam (10.8%), followed by Rat Killer poison (9.6%), and followed by Snake

Strike (8.8%), Organo Phosphorus Poisoning (8.5%), and Multiple Tablet Overdose (8.2%). 78% consumed

poison intentionally and are suicidal in nature, as no cases of homicidal poisoning were reported in the study

group, rest of the 22% of cases, were of accidental in nature. Mortality wise analysis showed that dead cases

count 13 in number which accounts to 3.5% of all poisoning cases.