Epidemiology of rodenticide poisoning in Manipal

Rodent pests are continuously targeted by humans to control their population. Many rodenticides have been used against them. These are the compounds that are easily available in every house as well as over the counter. This easy availability of rodenticides contributes to human poisoning and increases the morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the present study, we have analysed deaths due to rodenticide poisoning with respect to age, sex, manner of death and discussed the haemorrhagic manifestations and altered laboratory findings in the victims. Majority of the victims were students. In majority of the cases, external haemorrhage was present over the extremities and internal haemorrhage was seen in the gastrointestinal tract and heart.