A profile of acute poisoning at Mangalore (South India)

SummaryBackgroundThe aim of this study was to characterize the poisoning cases admitted to the Government Wenlock Hospital (a teaching hospital of Kasturba Medical College) Mangalore, India.Study designAll cases admitted to the emergency department of the hospital between January 2001 to May 2003 evaluated retrospectively. Data obtained from the hospital medical records and included the following factors: socio-demographic characteristics, agents and route of intake, and time of admission of the acutely poisoned patients.ResultsOf the total 33,207 patients admitted in the hospital for treatment, 325 patients were for to acute poisoning. This was 1% of all emergency admissions. Of these 70% were males and 30% females. The majority (36%) cases were from age group of 21–30 years. Most (72%) poisonings were intentional and only 27% were unintentional. The most important agents of acute poisoning were agrochemical pesticides (49%) followed by drugs (17%), and alcohols (13%). Forty-eight (15%) patients died. The poisons responsible for most of the mortality were organophosphate pesticides (65%) and aluminium phosphide (15%). In summary, the prevention and treatment of poisoning due to organophosphate and aluminium phosphide should merit high priority in the health care of the indigenous population of South India (Dakshina Kannada district).