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Pattern of poisoning in a developing agricultural country
  1. B. Senewiratne,
  2. Shanthi Thambipillai
  1. Department of Medicine, University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, Ceylon
  2. Clinical Research Unit, General Hospital, Kandy, Ceylon

    Abstract

    Four hundred and seventy-two cases of poisoning were seen over a two-year period in Kandy, Ceylon. The overall mortality was 23·7%. The pattern of poisoning was different from that in western countries in that 49·8% of the cases were due to insecticide poisoning and only 10·7% were due to drugs, including barbiturates. Insecticides accounted for 73·2% and drugs for only 4·5% of the 112 fatal cases. Of the fatal cases 51·7% were between the ages of 20 and 40 years and only 6·2% were over 50 years. The wastage of economically useful lives indicates the need for a poison centre.

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