title: Pattern of acute poisoning in a medical unit in central Sri Lanka.
abstract: One hundred and seventy nine cases of acute poisoning constituting 1.1% of all admissions to the medical unit over 3 years were analysed. Eighty-three per cent of the patients were under 30 years of age and 72% were males. The common agents were: OP insecticides in 51%, kerosene oil in 12%, rat poison in 8% and drugs in 8%. Ingestion with suicidal intent was the common mode of poisoning. The overall mortality was 16%. The results from four other major centres in Sri Lanka are presented for comparison.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Senanayake
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karalliedde
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013405:Suicide