RESUMEN
Objective: To study the clinical and demographic profile of acute poisoning cases admitted to Alva's Health Centre, Moodabidri, Karnataka, South India over a retrospective period of five and half years, with particular reference to the nature of poison, time delay in hospitalization, associated complications, and final outcome. Results: A total of 150 patients (0.6%) were admitted for acute poisoning during the study period out of a total 23,350 admissions with a mortality of 8%. Females comprised 58.8% cases, with commonest age group affected being 12–25 years (58%). Most cases of poisoning were intentional (96%), the vast majority of whom consumed agrochemical poisons (51.3%) followed by drugs (23.3%). There was significant preponderance of carbamates in the agrochemical poison group (41.6%). Drugs were the second most-preferred agents with benzodiazepines topping the list. Agrochemical compounds caused the highest mortality (91.7%) with organophosphorus compounds being the most lethal (54.5%). Mortality was significantly higher in those who co-ingested alcohol along with the poison (18.5%) and those who vomited prior to hospitalization (12.2%).