Research Article | Volume: 3, Issue: 1, January, 2013

Profile of poisoning cases in a Tertiary care Hospital, Tamil Nadu, India

B. Maharani and N. Vijayakumari   

Open Access   

Published:  Jan 28, 2013

DOI: 10.7324/JAPS.2013.30117
Abstract

Poisoning is an important public health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Information available with regard to acute poisoning in adults is limited at Salem, Tamil Nadu. Hence this study was done with the above objective. It is a retrospective study conducted during Jan 2009-Jan 2012 in a tertiary care hospital. 150 cases of acute poisoning in adults due to drugs and chemicals were included. Data on age, sex, marital status, occupation, religion, locality, type of poison, time and month of intake, route of exposure, associated co-morbid conditions and outcome of poisoning were recorded and analyzed by descriptive method. Among 150 cases, 148 cases were of intentional poisoning and two cases were of accidental poisoning. In all the cases the route of exposure was oral. Males (92 cases) outnumbered females (58 cases) and 101 cases were married. Peak occurrence was in the age group of 21-30 years (47 cases). Occupation wise poisoning was commonly found among male laborers (18.66%) and farmers (13.33%) followed by house wives (28%) and students (16.66%). 147 cases (98%) were Hindus. More cases were reported during summer season (36%) and day time (80%). Organophosphorus was the commonest agent (58.66%). Associated co-morbid conditions were found in 16 cases. The incidence of poisoning and its morbidity and mortality can be reduced by developing and implementation of effective prevention strategies.


Keyword:     Aluminium phosphide Endosulfan Organophosphorus Poisoning Salem.


Citation:

B. Maharani and N. Vijayakumari., Profile of poisoning cases in a Tertiary care Hospital, Tamil Nadu, India. J App Pharm Sci. 2013; 3 (01): 091-094.

Copyright:The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

HTML Full Text

Reference

Article Metrics
965 Views 90 Downloads 1055 Total

Year

Month

Related Search

By author names