HYDERABAD: At least 80 people have attempted suicide by consuming hand sanitisers in the last one year, as per data from the emergency department of Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), while 20 other such cases were reported at other tertiary centres in the city.
The easy availability of sanitisers in the Covid-19 pandemic had led many trying sanitisers as a method of suicide. Surprisingly, many have even consumed it after mixing it with alcohol to make the process pleasurable as per experts.
“While some have consumed it directly, in many cases people tend to mix it with alcohol too. Use of sanitisers have increased dramatically since the pandemic hit, primarily due to the ease of access. Now sanitisers are among other substances like floor cleaners, bathroom cleaners, disinfectants, herbicides and pesticides used by people,” explained Dr Ashima Sharma, head of department of emergency medicine, NIMS.
At least 50% of the hand sanitisers that were sold in the market during the pandemic are fake and their contents turned fatal for many after using them as a substitute for liquor.
“Sadly in most cases of sanitisers consumption, we see either youngsters from rural areas or farmers brought to us, after they suffered extensive gastrointestinal (GI) tract injuries,” Dr Ashima Sharma added.
Use of sanitisers caused burns in the gastrointestinal tract and although patients usually survive they enter a long cycle of repeated surgeries.
“Many youngsters living along in hostels, ones having love failure or exam failure are seen more often trying to commit suicide using anything available easily. Usually we see cases with extensive gastrointestinal tract burns as most tend to gulp a whole bottle of sanitiser,” said a junior doctor at the emergency department in state-run Gandhi Hospital.
“If burns are extensive patients undergo repeatedly surgeries over a long period of time and tend to suffer more. We need to train Asha workers to identify youngsters who are idle, seem depressed and cut off from others and counsel them to prevent such suicides,” added Dr Sharma.
Experts said that it it necessary to seek help. At times of depression, the brain chemical serotonin level falls drastically, triggering suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Such chemical changes need to be tackled with medication.
Also during high levels of stress, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis becomes over-active leading to imbalance of chemicals.
