The profile of acute poisonings in Harayana-Rohtak Study.
A prospective study of 559 cases of acute poisoning who came to this hospital over a period of 14 months. 91.4% cases were of self poisoning (suicidal), 8.1% accidental and only 0.5% homicidal. Majority of patients were young (mean age 27 years), males twice the number of females. Almost 3/4th of the total patients belonged to lower socio-economic group (rural more than urban). The common causative factors which led to self poisoning were marital disharmony, economic hardships and scolding/disagreement with other family members. Aluminium phosphide (ALP) was the most commonly abused substance followed by organophosphates and zinc phosphide in 67.8, 13.9 and 4.3% cases respectively. The overall mortality rate in the series was 33.82%, but true mortality rate in patients who consumed ALP was as high as 67.6%. Most of these cases (94.9%) were not given any preliminary treatment in the village primary health centre (PHC) nearest to the site of mishap and they were brought/referred to this hospital straight and thus most valuable time crucial for effective treatment was lost. Easy availability of a highly toxic substance like ALP at peak moments of frustration has added fuel to the fire and pushed up the incidence of self-poisoning. Suggested preventive measures include caging of tablets in plastic packs, stringent restrictions on free supply of ALP and education of medical/paramedical personnel involved in health care delivery at grass root level.
Siwach
S B
SB
Department of Medicine, Medical College, Rohtak.
Gupta
A
A
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning; D010720:Phosphines / Q000506:poisoning; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000506:poisoning; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000506:poisoning
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D007306:Insecticides; D010575:Pesticides; D010720:Phosphines; D012378:Rodenticides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C009701:zinc phosphide; C001864:aluminum phosphide