JIST

Abstract

Yellow phosphorus is used as an insecticide, rodenticide, in ammunition and fireworks manufacturing. More or less it affects all organs of the body but target organs of this poison are gastro-intestinal tract, liver, kidneys and brain. It is absorbed by the body very quickly and accumulates in various organs producing fatal effects thereof. Early detection and institution of treatment without delay is paramount importance in managing such cases. We report a fatal case of yellow phosphorus poisoning due to delayed institution of treatment. A 26 years old adult female came to emergency department

at Sri Aurobindo Medical College, Indore with complaints of nausea, generalized swelling, anuria and shortness of breath with abnormal vitals. Three days back she had consumed a tube-full of rat poison paste. The preserved gastric lavage fluid, vomited material, blood and urine samples were sent to the Forensic laboratory for Toxicological analysis. Qualitative screening of samples using Ammonium Molybdate and Mitscherlich methods detected presence of yellow phosphorus derivatives. The patient was succumbed to the complications of hepatic failure a day after admission to the hospital.