ABSTRACT
Poisoning is an important public health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Information available with regard to acute poisoning in adults is limited at Salem, Tamil Nadu. Hence this study was done with the above objective. It is a retrospective study conducted during Jan 2009-Jan 2012 in a tertiary care hospital. 150 cases of acute poisoning in adults due to drugs and chemicals were included. Data on age, sex, marital status, occupation, religion, locality, type of poison, time and month of intake, route of exposure, associated co-morbid conditions and outcome of poisoning were recorded and analyzed by descriptive method. Among 150 cases, 148 cases were of intentional poisoning and two cases were of accidental poisoning. In all the cases the route of exposure was oral. Males (92 cases) outnumbered females (58 cases) and 101 cases were married. Peak occurrence was in the age group of 21-30 years (47 cases). Occupation wise poisoning was commonly found among male laborers (18.66%) and farmers (13.33%) followed by house wives (28%) and students (16.66%). 147 cases (98%) were Hindus. More cases were reported during summer season (36%) and day time (80%). Organophosphorus was the commonest agent (58.66%). Associated co-morbid conditions were found in 16 cases. The incidence of poisoning and its morbidity and mortality can be reduced by developing and implementation of effective prevention strategies.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to focus on various factors associated with suicide by hanging at Chennai, India; with a view to identify the areas of intervention. A prospective study was carried out on 65 cases of death due to suicide by hanging which was received by the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Madras Medical College, Chennai, India, during the period of August 2008- July 2009. In the present study, 84.7%% of the cases were below the age of 40years, time of hanging in 50.8% of the cases was 3am-12noon, place of hanging in 95.5% of the cases was their residence, 92.3% were living with their family and 69.2% were married. Most frequent precipitating factors were marital unhappiness (33.8%), problems associated with organic disease (18.5%) and dowry harassment (16.8%). To reduce the incidence of suicides by hanging, there is urgent need to focus on these factors.