Rodenticide Poisoning: A Case Series of Deliberate Self-harm Admitted to a Tertiary Health Care Hospital in Northern Karnataka

Rodenticides or ‘rat poisons’ are mixture of compounds to eradicate rodents. They are the most toxic compounds with various chemical compositions, mechanisms of action, toxic doses and lethal effects. Coumarins, aluminium phosphide, zinc phosphide and yellow phosphorous are the commonly used rodenticides for deliberate self-harm (DSH). The use of pesticides as agents of deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) is on the rise, with more than 500,000 cases reported worldwide annually. The National Poison Information Centre (NPIC) is a round-the-clock telephone service meant for the dissemination of information regarding the symptoms and management of various poisonings. It is managed by the Department of Pharmacology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. In a retrospective study, data over 13 years were analysed from the NPIC. Of 14,867 cases reported to the NPIC, 17.06% were due to rodenticides. Rats are the most destructive pests damaging crops and for preventing these pests, rodenticides are commonly used in agricultural sector and homes. In the absence of a definite antidote, mortality in patients with rodenticide consumption is high. The rapid action, easy availability and high toxicity for the target species at an economic deal have made this compound an ideal agent with misuse for suicidal poisoning. This case series presents four cases of rat poisoning admitted to a tertiary health care hospital which helped us in identifying the clinical features of certain rat poisons and diagnosing the rat poison by means of poison detection centre and which will help the treating physician to reduce the mortality in future.