Current Trends of Poisoning in Tertiary Care Hospitals Located in a Rural Area of Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Time wise epidemiological studies are important to find out the trends of poisoning in each region. The
present study was conducted by collecting data regarding age, sex, marital status, religion, occupation, type
and manner of poisoning of cases which got admitted and treated over a period of 3 years to know the current
pattern of poisoning in tertiary care hospitals located in a rural area of Salem, Tamil Nadu.
Total number cases studied were 170 cases, Among them 60cases (35.3%) belonged to 21-30yrs, males
were 86 cases (50.6%) and females 84 cases (49.4%), both the sex were almost equally distributed, 103
cases(60.6%) were married, 151cases(88.8%) came from rural area, 160 cases (94.1%) were suicidal
and all belonged to Hindu religion. Occupation-wise 56 cases (32.9%) were house wives, students 51
cases (31.8%), followed by farmers, laborers and others. Coming to the type of poisons, maximum were
organophosphorous compounds 38 cases (22.4%), followed by Paraquat, 3% yellow phosphorous, oleander
seeds and others.