Rat poison brought 222 people to govt hospitals in 2025, most from north dists

Chennai: Last week, a gig worker refused to hand over rat poison to a woman, fearing she intended to end her life. While that video went viral on social media, doctors at govt hospitals in the city had another discussion in the wards—rodenticides poison hundreds of people every year, ravaging livers and hearts before doctors can intervene. Records in toxicology departments in govt hospitals across Chennai show rat poison tops the case list, followed by snake bites and a highly poisonous liquid herbicide, paraquat.Rat poison, available as paste, powder and cakes, can cause severe cellular poisoning if consumed in abnormal quantities and left untreated, progressively affecting the liver, heart and brain, and eventually leading to death, doctors said. "Commercially available ones are cakes that contain warfarin or superwarfarin, which block vitamin K and prevent blood from clotting. This leads to internal bleeding," said Dr S Chandrasekar, head, department of medicine at Govt Stanley Medical College Hospital.
Pastes and powders, by contrast, often pack zinc phosphide, which reacts with stomach acid to release deadly phosphine gas. "It starves cells of energy, causing liver failure. Many who consume these need transplants," Dr Chandrasekar added.Patients often show no visible symptoms for up to 24 hours after consumption. "If they report within this window, we administer a stomach wash, vitamin K and N-acetyl cysteine to help restore blood clotting and prevent liver damage," he said. In severe cases, doctors recommend a plasma exchange, a procedure where poisoned plasma is removed and fresh plasma or fluids are administered.The hospital recorded 222 rat poison cases in 2025, with 65% patients between 20 and 40, mostly men, and 24% under the age of 20. Between 2021 and 2025, we recorded 2,191 cases, peaking in 2022 with 803 cases. "At the end of 2022, TN banned sale and use of 3% yellow phosphorus paste, the most used poison for self-harm. Since then, there was a decline. In 2025, there were 222 cases of rat poisoning," Dr Chandrasekar said.Most cases come from northern agricultural districts such as Cuddalore, Villupuram and Kallakurichi, while Chennai accounts for only a fraction. While doctors say rat poison is intentionally used in most adult cases, accidental consumption is common among children. Tele MANAS helpline 14416 and the statewide 104 helpline are available to support those in distress.