Toxicology International (Formerly Indian Journal of Toxicology)

Tanuj Kanchan ¹, Shankar M. Bakkannavar ², Preetham R. Acharya ³

Affiliations
1 Departments of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal (Constituent Colleges of Manipal University), Karnataka, IN
2 Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal (Constituent Colleges of Manipal University), Karnataka, IN
3 Respiratory Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, IN

Abstract

Bakground: Morbidity and mortality related to acute poisoning is a serious health concern worldwide. Paraquat is known to be responsible for a number of acute poisonings in south India. Aim: The study aims at presenting the various aspects of paraquat poisoning that include patient profile, clinical presentation, end-organ complications, and observations at autopsy. Materials and Methods: The present registry-based retrospective research was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in south India. All the confirmed cases of paraquat poisoning were included in the present study. The postmortem and hospital records of these patients were retrieved and relevant information was collected and analyzed. Results: Paraquat poisonings constituted 14.4% of the total poisoning fatalities during the study period. Equal number of males and females were observed in the present study. The victims were aged between 17 and 65 years (mean ± SD = 30.2 ± 13.1 years). Manner of death was suicidal in 92.9% cases. Common presenting symptoms after ingestion of paraquat included vomiting, followed by difficulty in breathing. In the present series, overall survival post paraquat consumption ranged between 10 h and 25 days. Half of the victims died within 2 days of consumption of poison. The underlying cause of death included acute renal failure (ARF), adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiorgan failure (MOF), acute liver failure, etc., In all the cases, brain was congested and edematous, and visceral organs showed marked congestion at autopsy. Lungs were congested with marked edema in 10 cases. Conclusion: It is recommended that the availability of this highly toxic substance be restricted so as to prevent its misuse as a method of suicide.

Keywords

Autopsy, Manipal, Paraquat, Poisoning, South India.

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Rekha Thapar ¹, B. B. Darshan ¹, Bhaskaran Unnikrishnan ¹, Prasanna Mithra ¹, Nithin Kumar ¹, Vaman Kulkarni ¹, Ramesh Holla ¹, Avinash Kumar ¹, Tanuj Kanchan ²

Affiliations
1 Departments of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, IN
2 Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the clinic‑epidemiological profile of snakebite cases admitted at a Tertiary Care Centre in South India. Materials and Methods: A record based retrospective study was carried out at Kasturbha Medical College affiliated hospitals in Mangalore. All the snakebite cases admitted to the hospitals from January 2007 to December 2011 were included in the study. Data were collected using a pretested semi‑structured questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 11.5). The results are expressed as percentages. Results: The study included 198 cases of snakebite victims. The majority of the cases were males (68.2%). The mean age of the study population was 34.8 years. Maximum numbers of snakebite cases were reported during the month of September to December (47.9%). The peak time of snakebite was between 18.01 and 24.00 h which was reported in 40.5% of the cases. Lower extremities were the most common site of bite in more than three‑fourth of the cases (80.9%). The most common symptoms were a pain (45.9%) and swelling (44.9%). The case fatality rate was observed to be 3.0%. Conclusion: Snakebite still remains a major public health problem in this part of the world. Knowledge must be imparted regarding the prevention of snakebites through community health programs. Messages regarding prompt reporting of such cases and importance of effective treatment must be disseminated among people through mass media and role plays.

Keywords

Mangalore, Public Health, Snakebite, South India.

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G. N. Pramod Kumar ¹, Tanuj Kanchan ², Alok Atreya ³, P. Prasanna ¹, R. Balaraman ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Pillaiyarkuppam, Pondicherry, IN
2 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IN
3 Department of Forensic Medicine, Nepal Medical College Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal, IN
4 Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital & Post Graduate Institute, Pondicherry, IN

Abstract

Yellow oleander is a poisonous plant that grows wildly in most of the South Asia region and all parts of India. These plants are very often planted as ornamental shrubs along the road side and in institutional campuses too. Consumption of seeds of yellow oleander results in significantly morbidity and mortality each year in South Asia including Sri Lanka and India. A case of fatal yellow oleander poisoning is presented along with a review of literature.

Keywords

Poisoning, Suicides, India, Yellow Oleander.

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Tanuj Kanchan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka ‑ 575 001, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

Keywords

No Keywords.

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