Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: Dr. M V Kamalakar, MBBS, MD (Forensic Medicine), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), NH-7, Adilabad - 504001, AP, India. Email: drvenkatk.m@gmail.com
Suicide by organophosphorus poisoning is common in India. Acute poisoning by organophosphorus (OP) compounds is a major clinical problem, with thousands of deaths occurring every year in India. Eighty five (n=85) patients with organophosphorus poisoning were admitted to the emergency ward in a tertiary care medical college and hospital in Andhra, India. History of ingestion, clinical signs & symptoms and survival time in case of death were recorded to diagnose the OP poisoning. 54.11% of OP patients were aged between 16–30 years, followed by 31–45 years (31.76%). Based on different OP pesticides, Methyl Parathion showed highest consumption (61.17%) among patients. Majority of the admitted cases were of suicidal and women were the main sufferer. Suicidal deaths due to ingestion of organophosphorus compound are very common in India especially in women. The reason may be the increasing stress in the family and economic constraints.
Organophosphorus, Poisoning, India, Suicide
