A TEN-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE PATTERN OF POISONING AMONG THE CASES REPORTED TO A POISON INFORMATION CENTRE IN GUJARAT (INDIA)

Poisoning is a worldwide problem. The increased use of synthetic chemicals and drugs has resulted in a significant rise in poisoning cases. This study was planned to see the pattern of poisoning among the cases referred to the Poison Information Centre, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India (PIC-NIOH). A retrospective analysis of 4289 poisoning cases referred to the PIC-NIOH during a period of ten years (Jan 2001-Dec 2010) was made. The data were analysed with respect to age, sex, route of exposure, mode and type of poisoning. The agents encountered for poisoning included: household products, organophosphate pesticides, other pesticides, industrial/environmental chemicals, drugs, compounds of plants or animal origin (natural toxins), miscellaneous, mixed and unknown groups. The age ranged from 1 month to 95 years, with the highest number of incidences in the range of 20-29 years (41.78%). The males outnumbered females in poisoning. The route of exposure was mainly oral (86.45%). The highest number of poisonings was contributed by the pesticides (59.36%) of which organophosphate pesticides were the most common one. Accidental mode of poisoning contributed 3.52% and found to be more common among the children (≤ 9 yrs). The present study highlights the problem of poisoning in Gujarat and in India as a whole and stresses the need of more Poison Information Centres in the country.