An autopsy-based study of poisoning cases in a medical college situated in a rural area of northern India

Death due to acute poisoning is one of the most vital health challenges to cope-up. It is very essential to have a better understanding regarding the patterns of these deaths in order to prepare the relevant remedies for the same.

The aim of the present study is to assess the patterns of deaths due to poisoning in a tertiary care center and to study the autopsy related findings of these deaths.

It is an autopsy based retrospective study conducted in a tertiary care center. The ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional ethical committee. Descriptive statistics to study the distribution of the cases among different age groups, sex, type of poison compounds was computed and analyzed using SPSS software version 20

A total of 206 cases were recorded and maximum number of cases were done in 2018. Maximum patients were youngsters in the age group of 21-30 years (36.9%). Males dominated the study (62.6%). 95.1% were living in the rural areas and 62% of the cases belonged from lower socio-economic status. Majority of the patients were hospitalized (52.4%). Almost all the bodies (98.9%) of the dead bodies were fresh and cyanosed. Congested gastric mucosa was seen in 80.9% of the cases. In majority of the cases, the poisonous compound seen was aluminum phosphide (69.4%). Suicidal tendencies contributed to majority of the cases (87.4%).

The findings imply that recommendations for the proper handling, storage, and transportation of poisonous compounds should be defined while taking into account the groups of young teenagers without considering their sexual orientation. To manage poisoning cases, it is important to keep in mind that the most recommended agent in acute poisoning is the organophosphate.