Pattern of Poisoning Cases Admitted at a Tertiary Care Centre in the Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand

Poisoning is a common mode of suicide in developing countries like India, particularly in agricultural workers. A total 350 cases of poisoning were analysed during the two year period from January, 2007 to December, 2008. The emphasis was given on age, sex, socio-economic status, rural / urban, type and mode of poisoning. The most common type of poisoning was found to be organophosphorus (67.43%) and the least was prallethrin (All out) (0.28%). The Common motive of poisoning was suicidal in both male (63.43%) and female (32.58%), especially in young population of rural background with agricultural occupation. One probable reason for this could be due difficult geographical topography of hilly terrain, totally monsoon dependent agricultural practice and poor socio economic status of the population specific to this area.