Hair dye poisoning in Bundelkhand region (prospective analysis of hair dye poisoning cases presented in Department of Medicine, MLB Medical College, Jhansi).

AIMS OF STUDY Hair dye (Paraphenylene di-amine, PPD) poisoning has high morbidity and mortality and its incidence has increased dramatically in the past 4 years. A prospective study was planned to assess the clinical profile and outcome with different treatment approaches. MATERIAL AND METHODS The material comprised of 1020 cases admitted in Medicine Department of MLB Medical College, Jhansi, U.P. from July 2004 to March 2009. Out of 1020 cases 697 cases were of stone hair dye poisoning and 323 cases were of other branded hair dyes (powdered form containing less amount of Paraphenylene diamine). Diagnosis was made solely on the basis of the history given by cases/attendant and symptoms of neck swelling, black coloured urine and muscular pain. The cases were thoroughly studied for different complications (renal, hepatic and cardiac etc) and were treated accordingly. RESULTS Out of 1020 cases studied, majority were females in the age group of 15-45 yrs (n=734) while the rest were males. A total of 244 (23.92%) cases expired during treatment. Neck swelling, respiratory distress and whole body muscular pain were most common symptoms at presentation, oliguria, chest pain, palpitation, presyncope/syncope, pain in abdomen, nausea with vomiting and dysphagia were other common symptoms. CONCLUSION Paraphenylene diamine is highly toxic. Cases who consumed up to 10 gm of PPD usually survived if they presented to hospital within 4 hour of dye ingestion. Severe edema of face, neck and floor of mouth, renal failure and myocarditis were poor prognostic factors. No deaths occurred in cases of Branded Hair dye ingestion.