Clinical Profile and Outcome of Deliberate Self Poisoning Cases in Medical Wards

Abstract

Non-fatal deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicides are serious global health problems in many low- and middle-income countries including India. We conducted a cross sectional observational study in patients admitted with deliberate self harm in a tertiary care centre to identify the common agents used for poisoning in our area, to know the common clinical features and the outcome of such cases. Of the 200 patients observed, there were 114(57%) males and 86(43%) females. In the study group, 53 (13males, 40females) patients were adolescents, 85 (60 males, 25 females) were young, 29(16males, 13 females) were middle aged and 33 (25males, 8females) were elderly. The pesticide group which included organophosphates, organochlorines, carbamates and pyrethroids constituted commonest substance used as poisoning agent (39%,n= 78) followed by plant poisons (28%,n=55 ) which included yellow oleander, oduku leaves and abrus precatorius. Rodenticides (10%, n=20), benzodiazapines (6%, n=11), kerosene (5%, n==9) and paracetamol (3%, n==6) were the other common exposure. Various drug combinations, copper sulphate, sulphuric acid, formic acid, fabric whitner, weedicides and homeopathic medications constitutes 11% (n==21) of cases. Mortality of study population was 6% (n==12, 11 men and 1 woman). Four patients expired after organophosphorus poisoning, four with carbamate poisoning, two with oduku, one each with rodenticide and yellow oleander poisoning. Pesticides and plant poisons are the common agents used for deliberate self harm in our study. Adoloscent and young persons are commonly involved in suicide attempts. Pesticides cause majority of deaths while plant and rodenticide poisonings can also be fatal.