Two years epidemiological survey of Aluminium phosphide poisoning in Tehran

Background ; Aluminium phosphide poisoning known as Rice tablet poisoning in Iran is one of the most common types of lethal poisoning that has achieved more attention in recent years; therefore the Iranian Ministry of Health has forbidden its sale. The present study was designed and conducted to investigate consumption and mortality of rice tablets in Loghman-Hakim Poisoning Center.Material Method : This descriptive study was carried out from March 2005 through March 2007. All inpatients that were suspicious of botanic or chemical rice tablets ingestion were included and their sex, age, month of admission (1-24), length of stay and outcome were documented. Patients data were collected in questionnaires by observational method.Results : During the 24 month of study 340 subjects were admitted, of whom 232(68.2%) were referred in the second year. One hundred (29.4%) of the patients, most of them females (59%), died. There were no significant correlations among sex, age and outcome.Conclusion : Aluminium phosphide poisoning and its mortality is increasing in Iran. Therefore, restriction of easy accessibility to this poison by the government is recommended.