Epidemiological Profile of Pesticide Poisoning Cases in Bijapur, Karnataka in Southwest India: a Retrospective Study

Background: Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in developing countries. Its usage has increased in recent and thus increased even its misuse to commit suicide. The aim of his study was to determine the epidemiological profile of fatal pesticide poisoning in and around Bijapur district. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Department of Forensic Medicine, B.M. Patil Medical College. Bijapur, Karnataka in southwest India, with the fatal pesticide poisoning cases from 2003 to 2009. All collected data was analyzed in all possible aspects, to identify risk factors, most common offending agent and other epidemiological factors etc. Results: During the study period a total 980 medico legal autopsies were conducted, amongst them poisoning were 240 (24.48%) cases. Out of these, 210 cases were due to fatal pesticide poisoning (87.55%). All collected data was analyzed in all possible aspects, to identify risk factors, most common offending agent and other epidemiological factors. Conclusion: Agrochemical poisons, more so organophosphates are responsible for most of the poison related fatalities in the present study. Besides this, the establishment of specialized toxicological units for detection and management of poisoning cases at all hospitals and primary health care centers could considerably minimize the morbidity and mortality due to poisoning.