An epidemiological study of organophosphorus poisoning at manipal teaching hospital, Pokhara, Nepal.

ABSTRACT

Organophosphorus compounds are chemical compounds containing carbon-phosphorus bonds (apart from phosphate and phosphite esters), primarily used in pest control and are often persistent organic pollutants. Acute poisoning by organophosphorus (OP) compounds is a major global clinical problem, with thousands of deaths occurring every year in Nepal. Most of these pesticide poisoning and subsequent deaths occur due to deliberate self ingestion of the poison. Sixty five patients with severe organophosphorus poisoning were admitted to the emergency ward of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal from January 2008 to December 2008. History of ingestion, clinical signs & symptoms and survival time in case of death was also recorded to diagnose the OP poisoning. The mean age of patients was about 27 years. Most of the admitted cases were of suicidal in nature and women are the main victim. Suicidal deaths due to ingestion of organophosphorus compound are very common in Nepal especially in women. The reason may be the increasing stress in the family and economic constraints. Further study should be needed by government and NGO to evaluate it.