title: Toxicoepidemiology of fatal poisonings in Southern India.
abstract: An autopsy based retrospective study was conducted from January 2000 to December 2006 at Manipal in Southern India, and a profile of the victims of poisoning was prepared. The study was done to understand the magnitude and pattern of all poisoning fatalities in relation to the manner of death in Manipal region of Southern India. The study included a total of 198 cases of fatal poisoning. Self-poisoning was reported in 92.9% cases. Fatal accidental poisoning was seen in 6.1% cases. Homicide by poisoning was not reported during the study period. Uncertainty regarding the manner of death due to poisoning was observed only in two cases. Males were predominantly affected (71.2%). The majority of the victims were in the 3rd decade (28.3%) of life. The age of the victims ranged from 2 to 82 years with a mean age of 38.4 years. While majority of the victims consumed poison during daytime, most of the poisoning fatalities were reported during summer months. Organophosphate compounds were implicated in 68.7% of the total poisoning related fatalities. Males in the 3rd to 5th decades were prone to self-poisoning with organophosphate compounds. Accidental poisoning deaths were uncommon and poisoning was not a preferred method of homicide in this region. Our approach to the study reveals that quantitative chemical (toxicological) analysis is required to further strengthen and improve the databases of epidemiology of poisoning in our region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College (affiliated to Manipal University), Mangalore, India. tanujkanchan@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Tanuj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanchan
authors.forename: Ritesh G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: T S Mohan
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Shankar M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bakkannavar
authors.forename: Mario Joseph
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bukelo
authors.forename: Priya S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Jitesh Marian
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rasquinha
authors.forename: B Suresh Kumar
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shetty
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult