Profile of Poisoning in Autopsy Cases in Bangalore North: A Ten Year Retrospective Study

Introduction: Poisoning pattern of a region is very crucial in determining the health need of the society and planning the infrastructure and manpower requirement for dealing these cases effectively and efficiently.

Aim: The aim of present study is to study the profile of deaths due to poisoning in autopsy cases and to analyse the socio etiological factors involved.

Materials and Methods: The study is a ten year retrospective study conducted at Department of Forensic Medicine, M S Ramaiah Medical College during the period from 1st January 2006 to 31^st December, 2015.All cases of deaths due to poisoning brought for medico legal autopsy were studied. The data obtained was computed and descriptive analysis of baseline characteristics were analysed and summarized.

Results: In our study, 7% of the total cases autopsied in the study period belonged to death due to poisoning of which maximum numbers of 420 (70%) cases were seen in male and 180 (30%) cases were female and male to female ratio being 2.33:1.Most of the poisoning cases were reported in the 21–30 years age group. Majority of cases (76%) were suicidal in manner. Majority of cases were due to OP poisoning.

Conclusions: Thus, the study concluded that males are higher in number, and poisoning is seen most commonly among people from the age group of 21–30 years. During the span of the study, poisoning due to insecticide were predominant.