Sociodemographic
Profile of the
Organophosphorus Poisoning
Cases in Southern India
953-956
Correspondence
Kora S A
‘Shailaja Nilaya’, Mahaveer Road
Bagalkot- 587 101
Karnataka, India.
E-mail: shreeramkora@yahoo.co.in
Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the patterns, the social factors and the clinical outcomes of Organophosphorus poisoning in north Karnataka region.
Materials and Methods: All the OP poisoning cases who were admitted to the emergency department of S.N.Medical College and Hanagal Shree Kumareshwar Hospital and Research Center, Bagalkot, during the period of one year from Jan 1st to Dec 31st 2010 were studied.
Results: 148 cases of OP poisoning were studied out of a total of 232 poison cases. In the present study, 52.8% cases were females and a majority of the cases were from the urban areas (56.75%). Females were more in both the married and unmarriedcategories, with the highest number of cases in the age group of 21 to 30 years (46.62%). The commonest motive was suicide (95.94%). The mean time interval for the hospital admission was 4.27 hours, with a mean hospital stay of 5.17 days. Winter was commonest season for the poisoning, with 41 cases being observed in winter. The poison was consumed mainly in the afternoon (43.95%). Housewives were found in high numbers in this study (55 cases). The mortality rate was 4.72%.
Conclusion: There was a high incidence of OP poisoning with mortality in this region. The OP compounds were readily available at low costs in the market. A time of stress and frustration can lead to their use as a common poison to commit suicide with.