Epidemiology of insecticide poisoining at A.I.I.M.S Emergency Services and role of its detection by gas liquid chromatography in diagnosis

Acute poisoning by drugs and chemical agents is an important medical emergency which carries a high morbidity and mortality. The nature of poison involved varies in different countries and also in different parts of the same country. During the perioid July 1996 to December 1997 total 726 cases were brought with alleged history of acute poisoning at the emergency services of A.I.I.M.S, out of which 93 cases were due to insecticide poisoning which were analysed for the study and also their detection by Gas Liquid Chromatography were carried out in the toxicological laboratory of A.I.I.M.S to generate a base line data on the epidemiological factors contributing to the incidence (in relation to age, sex and socio-economic status) and mortality due to insecticide poisoning so as to highlight the problems which require planned and concerted efforts in dealing with it.