Puducherry, March 4: Two children died recently at a Puducherry hospital after they brushed their teeth using rat poison, mistaking it for toothpaste.
The children were admitted to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in a serious condition in February and died without responding to medication.
Dr B Vishnu Bhat, head of department of paediatrics at JIPMER, said B Jothilakshmi, 5, from Thirunavalur in Villupuram district mistook rat poison for toothpaste and brushed her teeth on February 5. She was admitted to JIPMER on February 10. She died of liver failure two days later.
In another incident, P Iyyappan, 3, from Kallakuruchi also in Villupuram district brushed his teeth using rat poison on February 22. The boy first underwent treatment at the government medical hospital at Mundiyampakkam in Villupuram district for four days before being referred to JIPMER on February 27. But the boy died on February 29 due to liver failure.
Some brands of rat poison are sold in packages that resemble toothpaste packets. Rat poison (yellow phosphorus) is highly toxic and affects mainly liver, brain and kidneys. There is no antidote for this.
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