Citation

Maseeh A, Agarwal AK. J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2005; 22(1): 20-22.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Department of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Aluminium phosphide is a fumigant pesticide widely used in north India. It has been frequently used for suicidal purposes because of its easy availability and low cost. A one-year retrospective study was conducted to gather information regarding the incidence and outcomes of aluminium phosphide poisoning cases. Information about the patient characteristics, delay before hospitalization, signs and symptoms, laboratory investigations, and management, were recorded on a protocol. Aluminium phosphide (61 patients) constituted 22% of all poisoning cases. Majority of the patients were male; the cause of poisoning was suicidal in 88% of all patients. Vomiting and shock were the most common presenting symptoms. Tachycardia, tachypnoea, and shock on presentation seem to be predictors of negative outcome. While treatment was mainly supportive, all the patients were also given magnesium sulphate infusion as per the institutional protocol. The mean duration of hospitalization was four days and the overall survival rate was 56%.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; female; male; prognosis; shock; India; incidence; survival rate; sex difference; mortality; aluminum phosphide; prediction; morbidity; article; major clinical study; vomiting; retrospective study; length of stay; clinical feature; tachycardia; self poisoning; dopamine; clinical protocol; outcomes research; electrocardiogram; magnesium sulfate; thorax radiography; tachypnea; aluminum overload