Socio-demographic profile of deaths due to poisoning at a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore

Abstract

Background: Deaths due to poisons form inexorable part of all unnatural deaths in the current era of social, cultural and personal dilemma existing among mankind. Stress, poverty, financial insecurities, personal conflicts, unemployment, ill health, psychological disturbances, difficulties in psycho-social adaptability and loneliness contribute significantly to the ever-increasing mortality in poison deaths. Methods and results: A 20-month prospective descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute on cases of death due to poisoning. Out of 110 cases, maximum number of cases were male (63.63%), in the age group of 21-30 years (33.63%). 92.72% belonged to Hindu religion and 55.45% belonged to the upper lower class. 54.54% belonged to urban areas and 60% were married victims. Maximum numbers of cases (38.18%) were recorded in winter, commonly between 5pm – 10 pm (39.09%) and 84.54% occurred at the place of residence. 84.54% of cases were suicidal in nature with psychological causes being the most common motive (30.90%). 81.81% of cases received treatment and 34.53% succumbed to death within 1-7 days of consumption of poison. Organophosphorus group of insecticide (50%) was the most common poison encountered, followed by Phosphide ions (30%). Conclusion: Poisoning is a major epidemic of non-communicable disease in the present century. Suicidal and accidental poisoning are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality throughout the world.