Abstract
Objective: Deliberate self-poisoning is a serious global issue that contributes to significant morbidity and mortality all over the world. The present study was conducted with an objective to identify the common agents used for self-poisoning prevalent in South Odisha and to determine the common clinical features and outcome of such cases.
 Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 200 patients with deliberate self-poisoning belonging to the age group of 15–70 years over a period of 2 years from August 2017 to September 2019 in Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Odisha, India. All the above-mentioned patients admitted to the hospital, were treated with specific antidotes according to the poison ingested. Results were analyzed using appropriate standard statistical methods such as mean, standard deviation, and percentage.
 Results: Out of 200 patients, majority were female (65%, n=130) and 35% (n=70) were male; mean age was 38.9 (±16.8) years. Organophosphates, aluminum phosphide, glyphosate, organochlorines, and carbamates were the most common pesticides used as poisoning agents (74.5%, n=149) followed by plant poisons (7%, n=14) which included yellow oleander seed. Overall mortality in our study was 12.5%.
 Conclusion: Pesticides and plant poisons were the common agents used in our study for deliberate self-poisoning. Young persons, illiterates, and housewives were commonly involved in suicide attempts. Organophosphate caused majority of deaths.
Highlights
Deliberate self-poisoning and suicides are serious global health issue in many developing and underdeveloped countries including India, where the toxicity of available poisons and sparse medical facilities contributes to significant morbidity and mortality.It is observed that suicide attempts by females are 3 times more common than males [1]
Agents used Organophosphates, organochlorines, carbamates, aluminum phosphide, glyphosate, cypermethrin, and norbormide were the most common pesticides used as poisoning agents (74.5%, n=149) followed by plant poison (7%, n=14) which was yellow oleander seed
This study shows that pesticides were the most common agents used for deliberate selfpoisoning followed by plant poison, and in all the cases, the route of ingestion was oral
Summary
Deliberate self-poisoning and suicides are serious global health issue in many developing and underdeveloped countries including India, where the toxicity of available poisons and sparse medical facilities contributes to significant morbidity and mortality.It is observed that suicide attempts by females are 3 times more common than males [1]. Deliberate self-poisoning and suicides are serious global health issue in many developing and underdeveloped countries including India, where the toxicity of available poisons and sparse medical facilities contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. In India, social and economic reasons are the major cause of suicidal death in men while emotional and personal problems are the causes in women [2]. Acute pesticide poisoning is a major issue in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region and organophosphates are considered the most important cause of death from acute poisoning worldwide. According to data available from National Poison Information Centre, India, suicidal poisoning with pesticides is the most common modality of poisoning since it is cheap, highly toxic, and capable of being taken along with food or drink and above all available [4]
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