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Abstract
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INTRODUCTION: Poisoning is a major health problem in developing countries like India. Epidemiology of poisoning can help to take measures for prevention of poisoning.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of unnatural death due to poisoning and to determine the various parameters of poisoning such as mode and type of poisoning, relation to age and sex, vulnerable age group, religion, seasonal variation, place of occurrence and to find out the most common type of poison consumed. Materials and method: Present study was conducted retrospectively during January 2011 to December 2011, which included 327 cases of death due to poisoning brought for postmortem examination at Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Victoria hospital, Bangalore medical college and research institute, Bengaluru. Information pertaining to sociodemography, place of occurrence of poisoning and type of poisoning etc was collected and analysis was done.
RESULTS: Out of 3544 post mortem examinations done during study period, 9.22 % (n-327) cases were that of poisoning. We observed that majority of victims were male (66.97%, n-219) and from urban area (71.86%, n-235). Peak incidence was observed in the age group of 21- 30 years (33.33%, n-109). Majority of deaths were suicidal (78.89%, n-258). Organophosphorous compound poisoning accounted in 53.53 % (n-175) cases.
CONCLUSION: The mortality and morbidity due to poisoning can be reduced by conducting educational programs, providing counselling services and poison information services to the needy people. Strict legal enforcement in selling and handling of agrochemicals is the need of the hour to avoid premature loss of human resource from death due to poisoning. © 2017, Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved.
Language: en |