Changing Trends Inpoisoningat a Tertiary Healthcare Centrein North Karnataka, India

Background: Acute poisoning is a medical emergency as well as a major public health problem as it leadsto significant burden on healthcare services. It is pertinent to know the nature and outcome of poisoning foreffective prevention and management strategies.Method: A comparative retrospective analysis of 622 poisoning cases admitted to a tertiary care hospitalduring the period from 2011-12 and 2018-19 were compared to assess the age, sex, mode of poisoning andthe nature of the poisonous substance.Conclusion: The study reveals a sharp increase in the acute poisoning cases and changing trends ofcommonly used poisons with passage of time. Although, males outnumbered females, a steep rise in femalepoisoning cases, with majority (60%) being young adults especially in the age group of 21-30 years isalarming. Suicide was the most common manner of poisoning, while organophosphates and medicinal drugswere the most commonly used substances.