A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF FATAL OUTCOMES OF POISONING IN TEHRAN

Data on 194 fatal poisoning cases admitted to various hospitals in Teh ran over a 1-y period showed an overall male:female ratio of 1.9:1, wi th females predominating only in the 13-19 y age group. Fifty-five per cent of the deaths were attributed to suicide, affecting more females than males. Most cases were referred to hospitals between 1 pm and 1 a m. There was a slight seasonal variation, with the highest number of c ases in July and March and the lowest in April. Drugs were the most fr equently used poison (27%) followed closely by pesticides (24%). Benzo diazepines and tricyclic antidepressants accounted for 38%, of drug-re lated poisonings, with diazepam (61%), imipramine (44%) and amitriptyl ine (33%) the most commonly used agents in each group. Insecticides we re responsible for 58% of pesticide-related deaths. Following pesticid es, 13% of the deaths were due to chemicals, with depilator and solven t abuse accounting for 88% of the cases in this group.