Clinical-Profile of Rodenticide Poisoning Cases Treated at BPKIHS (A Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern Nepal): A Retrospective Study

Background: Rodenticides are commonly known as rat poison, are typically non-specific pest control chemicals which are made and sold for the purpose of killing rodents [1]. It is directly toxic to mammals and risk of poisoning depends on its toxicity. These can be high, moderate or low toxicity [2]. Depending upon compound used it is broadly classified into metal phosphide and anticoagulants. The purpose of this study is to find the clinical outcome of the patients in our setting. Materials and Methods: This descriptive retrospective study was done for the rodenticide poisoning cases of five (5) years from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2020. Sample size was calculated as 231. Collected data was entered in Microsoft excel 2010 and converted into SPSS 11.5 for statistical analysis. Result: 268 cases of five years were included. Out of which 33 were excluded from study due to incomplete data and mixed poisoning. Thus 235 cases were analyzed, 186 were aluminum phosphide, 15 were zinc phosphide and 34 were super warfarins.94 were male and 141 were female. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness and pain were the main clinical features.4 died from Aluminum phosphide group, 8 died from zinc phosphide group and none died from super warfarin group. Ionotropic support and mechanical ventilation needed in 80% of patients who died. Conclusion: Rodenticide poisoning is a common mode of self-harm. The metal phosphides (Zinc phosphide and Aluminium phosphide) are highly toxic with high mortality rate than super warfarin group. Among metal phosphides, Aluminium phosphide is more toxic than Zinc phosphide probably because Aluminium phosphide is unstable compound. The major cause of death in metal phosphide seems due to involvement of cardiovascular and metabolic system.