Afzal Memon, Jan Muhhamd Shaikh, Salman Ahmed Farsi Kazi, Akbar Kazi.
Changing trends in deliberate self poisoning at Hyderabad.
J Liaquat Uni Med Health Sci Jan ;11(3):124-6.

OBJECTIVE: To document changing trends in deliberate self poisoning in patients admitted in intensive care unit of Accident & Emergency (A & E) Department of Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad. DESIGN: Descriptive Retrospective SETTING: Intensive care unit of A & E Department at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad from January to December 2008. METHODS: Medical records of 236 patients of poisoning admitted in intensive care unit of A & E Department at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad from January to December 2008 were reviewed; relevant data like history and clinical finding were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: During study period, 236 patients of poisoning were admitted in intensive care unit of A&E Department at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad. The mean age was31.24±10.72, females were 130(55.08%) & males were 106(44.91%), poisoning observed was common (44.49%) in age group 20-30 years. The changing trend was more towards suicidal 160(67.79%) than accidental 76(32.20%). The drugs used for poisoning were organophosphate (73.30%), benzodiazepines (14.40%), powders (rat killer/ anti lice) (7.62%) and oil (phenyl, kerosene) (4.66%). The fatal out come was (9.32%) and the survival rate was (60.67%). The route / exposure of cases by ingestion was 160(67.79%), by inhalation 50(21.18%) and topical 26(11.01%). CONCLUSION: This study shows marked decline in the use of benzodiazepines and other agents as compared to organophosphate poisoning which shows increase in their usage resulting in changing trends of poisonous agents. The reasons of this change were due to easy availability of the toxic agents over the counter. Preventive measures are to be taken to stop the easy availability of these toxins by appropriate legislation. Awareness and education to the people is recommended to avoid such mishaps.

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