Citation

Singh TB, Singh KR, Prasad L, Ng T, Singh TB. J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2009; 26(1): 37-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Department of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A retrospective study was done on poisoning patients of 18 years and below who attended Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital, Imphal, Manipur (India) during January 2005 to December, 2007 to study the different patterns of childhood poisoning in Manipur. A total of 474 childhood poisoning cases attended RIMS during these three years of study. The highest incidence was found to be household substances (42%; n=200), among which kerosene was the most frequently used substance, contributing to 22.36%. Medicinal substances (19.62%) and insecticides (14.98%) followed the household substances. Most of the cases were in the age group of >15-18 years in both the sexes. Males were more affected than females (52.11% vs.47.89%). Up to the age of 12 years males were more affected than females and after this age group there was a reverse trend. 302(63.71%) had suicidal intention while 148(31.22%) were accidental. Most patients were discharged after treatment while 15 (3.16%) patients expired. Expired cases were maximum with insecticides (n=11; 73%) followed by medicinal substances, alcohol, acid and unknown substances equally. Childhood poisoning is a very common in Manipur as in other parts of the World. So, educating and giving awareness of the problem to the public could prevent many deaths and disabling sequel of the poisoning.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; human; Mortality; child; female; male; Poisoning; accident; alcohol; India; incidence; Overdose; mortality; suicide attempt; intoxication; article; major clinical study; sex ratio; age distribution; insecticide; domestic chemical; kerosene; Accidental; Kerosene; acid