Weinvestigated the
epidemiology of intentional self-poisoning
in rural Sri Lanka by prospectively in rural Sri Lanka by prospectively
recording 2189 admissions to two recording 2189 admissions to two
secondary hospitals.Many patients were secondary hospitals.Many patients were
young (median age 25 years), male (57%) young (median age 25 years), male (57%)
and used pesticides (49%).Of the198 who
died,156 were men (case fatality12.4%) died,156 were men (case fatality12.4%)
and 42 were women (4.5%).Over half of and 42 were women (4.5%).Over half of
female deaths werein those under 25
years old; male deaths were spread more years old; male deaths were spread more
evenly across age groups.Oleander and evenly across age groups.Oleander and
paraquat caused 74% of deathsin people paraquat caused 74% of deathsin people
under 25 years old; thereafter
organophosphorous pesticides caused organophosphorous pesticides caused
many deaths. Although the age pattern of many deaths. Although the age pattern of
self-poisoning was similar to that of self-poisoning was similar to that of
industrialised countries, case fatality was industrialised countries, case fatality was
more than15 times higher and the pattern more than15 times higher and the pattern
of fatal self-poisoning different. of fatal self-poisoning different.
