Abstract

Background: Hair Dyes are chemicals that are used to change hair colour. Hair colouring has become irresistible fascination to improve physiognomy especially people having grey hair. Hair dyeing is an ancient art and hair colourants are rapidly growing globally. But sometimes it is used to commit suicide. Hair dye poisoning occurs when someone swallows’ dye or tint used to colour hair. Morbidity and mortality due to poisoning have been known to pose a significant burden on the health. Aims and Objectives: To study the incidence and demographic features of hair dye poisoning in people who are admitted in Narayana Medical College Hospital, Nellore district State Andhra Pradesh South India. Type of Study: This is a two years prospective study. Place of study: Hair dye poisoning admitted in Narayana Medical College Hospital between the periods July 2012- June 2014. Material and Methods: All patients admitted and managed for hair dye poisoning were retrieved and data collected. Age, sex, incidence, residence, education and marital status were all recorded on the prepared proforma. Observation and Discussion: In our study, age wise distribution of 76 cases of paraphenylenediamine (PPD) hair dye poisoning revealed that maximum cases (56.6%) were in the age group 21–30 years with 27.96 ± 11.24 years mean and standard deviation respectively. Hair dye poisoning was common among females (76% of all cases). The incidence of hair dye poisoning was 154.84 patients of hair dye poisoning/1000 cases of all poisoning/year from July 2012 to June 2013 and 112.90 patients of hair dye poisoning/1000 cases of all poisoning/year during July 2013 – June 2014. Rural people (52.60%) consumed hair dye poison more than urban population. More common in under matriculation. Maximum persons (78.9% of all cases) were married. Conclusion: Trend of hair dye consuming is increasing now a days among young, rural population. It is common among female, married persons and increasing burden on health care institution.

Keywords: Hair dye poisoning; Super vasmol poisoning; Paraphenylenediamine.

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