Publication:

Study on organophosphate poisoning analysis and pharmacotherapeutic outcome in tertiary care hospital

Background Organophosphate (OP) poisoning is the most common cause of poisoning and suicides in rural India as it is easily available and more often used in agriculture as a pesticide. In the present days, death due to OP is mainly due to draught, scarcity of rains and debt.

Methods The main objective of the study was to know the sociodemographic patterns, mode of presentation and outcome of treatment in the OP poisoning case that were admitted and treated in the tertiary care hospital attached to SIMS Shimoga. The study was a retrospective which included 120 patients at the point.

Results It was found that OP poisoning was commoner in males than in females. The male: female ratio was 1.5:1. OP associated deaths were the more common in agriculture based socioeconomic group than others mainly due to easy accessibility. Muscarinic manifestations were the common presentation in most of the patients. It was found that in the majority of the cases atropine and pralidoxime were the commonly used antidotes and recover rate was 93%.

Conclusion Consumption of large doses of OP and delayed treatment due to late admission were associated with increased mortality. Awareness programs regarding safe use and strict policies governing the availability of OP will help in saving many lives due to OP poisoning.