Retrospective study of insecticide mortality at Manipal, South India

A twelve year retrospective review of insecticide poisoning fatalities was undertaken at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. Among total of 1917 autopsies conducted, 372 cases were due to poisoning out of which 287 cases (15%) were of death due to insecticides with a predominance of organophosphates. Ninety two percent of poisoning fatalities were due to self-poisoning. Majority of victims were males in their 3^rd decade of life. Majority of the cases occurred in villages, more during winter season with indoor consumption of poison in more than 3/4^th of cases. We suggest further studies at multiple centers to observe a trend in order to float a new strategy for controlling this insecticide menace.