A few weeks ago, a five-year-old boy from Kathmandu ingested levothyroxine sodium, a medicine used to treat hypothyroidism, which his mother had brought for her treatment. The boy was rushed to a nearby hospital when he developed fever and started vomiting.

In Jumla, a 15-year-old girl of a remote village consumed four 500 mg paracetamol tablets at a go in a rage. Her parents rushed her to the nearby health post.

Doctors at both health facilities called at 01 4502011, the hotline of the Poison Information Centre started by the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, and sought help for treating levothyroxine and paracetamol overdoses.

“We gave suggestions to the doctors and told them about the antidote to be used if required,” said Dr Rakesh Ghimire, the centre's chief. “Both the patients were admitted to health facilities, put under medical observation, and discharged after they recovered.”

These are among the 40 cases of poisoning by accidental drug overdose, attempted suicide by consuming pesticides and medicines dealt with by the centre in the last three months. The centre was officially launched on Thursday.

“Even health workers may not have the idea to treat cases of poisoning properly,” said Dr Dinesh Kafley, the hospital director. “This centre especially targets health workers serving throughout the country. Doctors at the centre will provide the latest data and information on the antidote for treating poisoning.”

Studies show pesticide ingestion is the second major cause of suicide after hanging in Nepal. Of those who consume pesticides to die, 95 percent ingest insecticides—aluminium phosphide, organophosphorus, aluminium and zinc phosphide, among others. Despite the authorities banning dichlorvos and the removal of most toxic formulations of aluminium phosphide from sale years ago, pesticide ingestion for suicide has not declined.

Each year around 7,000 people in Nepal commit suicide, according to the Nepal Police data.

Doctors say not only the intentional attempt of suicide, cases of accidental drug overdoses, ingestion of mosquito repellent, toilet cleaner, nutmeg the spice and toothpaste and mushroom poisoning often get reported.

“Family members panic and do their best to save their dear ones,” said Rajesh Sharma Poudel of the centre. “Health workers could also refer the patients to the tertiary care centre if they do not know how serious the case is. We will help them with the best advice from national as well as international clinical toxicologists.”

Doctors say that most of the patients get cured if taken to hospital on time as physicians know the proper antidote for poisons. They say that physicians treating poisoning may need to gain proper knowledge about treatment procedures, as detailed knowledge of toxicology is not taught in medical schools of Nepal. Toxicology is a separate discipline overlapping biology, chemistry, pharmacology and medicine. It studies the adverse effects of chemical substances on living organisms and the diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

Experts say seeking support helps patients’ relatives financially, as they do not rush mild cases to big hospitals hiring an ambulance.

Officials at the centre said they will also take help from TOXBASE, a database designed to meet the needs of first-line management of poisoning.