Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PATTERN OF POISONING CASES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Linto Mathew Thomas* and Prabhu G.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the socio-demographic profile, pattern, and outcome of the poisoning cases in a multispecialty tertiary care teaching hospital severing rural population Methodology: A hospital based prospective study was done at RMMC hospital, Chidambaram Tamilnadu during the period of February 2016 to April 2016. Patient’s data relevant to the study was recorded in a suitable designed patient Proforma. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: During the study period 97 poisoning cases were reviewed. Out of 97 cases 54 were males and 43 were females. Poisoning was found common in teen ages and young adult between the age group of 15-25 (51.54%) in which females (30/50) prevailed the males (20/50). The poison pattern was more in married population (51.54%) when compared to unmarried population (48.45%). During the study period OPC poisoning (27.83%) was recorded as the major pattern of poisoning followed by rat killer (24.74%) and ant killer (11.34%). For 77.31% of the cases reason of poison consumption was psychosocial stress and only 6.18% found to be accidental. Average numbers of days of hospitalization was found to be 4.72 days. The mortality rate due to poisoning during the study period was 5.15%. Conclusion: The common substance used to causing deliberate self-harm was organophosphorous compounds. Suicidal tendency was more in the age group of 15-25 years and in married population. Mortality rate was found to 5.15%.

Keywords: poisoning pattern, mortality rate, organophosphorous.