European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Acute poisoning by pesticides is becoming a serious global problem.
Knowledge of general pattern of poisoning in a particular region can hopefully lead to early
diagnosis and control of poisoning crises, thereby bringing down the morbidity and mortality
to minimum. Present study was an attempt to find out some epidemiological factors, pattern
and other significant features of poisoning among poisoning cases at a tertiary care hospital.
Material and Methods: The present study was a retrospective study conducted in cases of
medicolegal autopsy with history of poisoning and in cases that were diagnosed as poisoning
after post mortem examination.
Results: Of the total 3275 cases of postmortem, poisoning constituted 433 cases amounting
to 13.22% during this study period. Majority of cases were from 21-40 yrs (52.66%) followed
by 41-60 yrs (27.71%). Majority of cases were males (66.74%) as compared to females
(33.26%). Majority were illiterate (62.59%) as compared to literate (36.26%). In present
study, majority were married (64.9%), from nuclear family (95.38%), from low
socioeconomic class (81.29%). Majority cases survived for less than 1 day period (54.73%) &
had manner of death as suicidal (94.46%). In present study, most common poison used were
organo-phosphorous compounds (64.43%), aluminum phosphide (5.77%), zinc phosphide
(5.77%), corrosive acid poison (5.08%) & carbonates (4.62%).
Conclusion: An overall look at the autopsies of the cases of poisoning led to the conclusion
that the people were more prone to consume poison in the second to fourth decade of their
life & suicide was the dominant manner of death in most of the cases.