European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MEDICO LEGAL EVALUATION OF ACUTE POISONING CASES IN HAPUR REGION - U.P., INDIA

Devendra Singh*, Jayanti Singh, R.K. Sharma, J.L. Agarwal, Hemant Kumar Singh, Daya Chand

ABSTRACT

Acute poisoning is a common medico-social problem all over the world. Acute poisoning constitutes one of the main reasons why patients visit emergency department of hospitals. Aims and objectives: 1. To study the nature, pattern & magnitude of the morbidity and mortality due to poisoning. 2. To study the demographic profile of the poisoning cases in Hapur district. Material and Methods The study was conducted at Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur & Government Hospital, Hapur from February 2014 to July 2015. There were 160 patients of acute poisoning admitted to the Department of Medicine / Emergency during the study period. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 100 patients were chosen as study subjects. Results Out of 100, 64 (64%) were males and only 36 (36%) were females. Majority 70 (70%) of patients were married and 30 (30%) were unmarried. 56 (56%) of the patients belonged to rural area and 44 (44%) belonged to urban area. Farmer (38 cases, 38%), students (16 cases, 16%) and house wives (22 cases, 22%) were the main targets. Suicide was the most common mode of poisoning. in this study 96 out of 100 cases (96%) were suicidal. The most common agent encountered was Aluminum Phosphide 23 (23%). Majority 63 (63%) of patients presented within 2 – 4 hours of poisoning. 75 (75%) of patients out of 100 survived while 25 (25%) expired. Conclusion Knowledge of general pattern of poisoning in a particular region will help in early diagnosis and treatment of cases, thus decreasing the rate of mortality

Keywords: Poisoning, aluminium phosphide, organophosphate.