Incidence of Paraphenylenediamine (Blackstone) Intoxication as A Suicidal Poison in Interior Sindh

Abstract

Objective: The study was aimed to see the incidence of this poisoning.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women, Nawabshah over a period of 3years from January, 2013 to December 2015.

Material and Methods: The study was based upon the data of 235 female cases of PPD poisoning extracted from the medical records of Surgical  Intensive Care Unit  at PUMHSW.

Results: During the period of study a total of 235 female cases of PPD poisoning were reported in the hospital. The mean age of study population was 24.47±9.88 years. Regarding the outcomes 54.9% patients were cured, 38.3% expired & 6.8% were referred.

Conclusion: The study revealed that number of cases using hair dyes for commission of suicide is significant and alarming. It is recommended that use of Blackstone (paraphenylenediamine) in hair dyes or in other cosmetics must be discouraged.