Accidental asphyxial deaths (1996–2005): A study from South Delhi

Two hundred and fifty-six accidental asphyxial deaths (1996–2005), were studied retrospectively from autopsy reports, relevant medical and toxicological reports in the department of Forensic medicine & Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, which constituted 15.9% of all asphyxial deaths. Males outnumberd females in total number of accidental asphyxial deaths [Males 214 (83.6%): Females 42 (16.4%)]. Commonest age group involved was 20–29 years (33.6%), followed by 10–19 years which contributed another 20.7%. The least common age group being geriatric age group (60 years and above), which contributed only 5 (2.0%) cases. Among the different methods of accidental asphyxial deaths, deaths due to drowning (57.4%) was the commonest followed by deaths due to choking and aspiration (16.0%), traumatic asphyxia (12.9%) carbon monoxide poisoning and environmental suffocation (9.4%). Drowning deaths were common in rainy season (40.8%), followed by spring and summer (32.5%), autumn and winter season (26.8%). No significant seasonal difference was found in other modes of accidental asphyxial deaths.