Death due to suicidal poisoning in bijapur district

Background: Poisoning related deaths were commonly encountered in forensic autopsy. Poisoning related deaths mostly suicidal sometimes accidental and rarely homicidal. Aim: To study death due to suicidal poisoning in our area. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 100 cases of death due to suicidal poisoning which underwent Postmortem, from 2008-2018, Al Ameen Medical College, Bijapur. Results: In total 100 cases of death due to suicidal poisoning 72 were males and 28 were females with male to female ratio 2.5:1. 21-30 age group is more commonly involved around 52%. Most of the victims are Hindus and from lower socioeconomic group(64%). Observed lethal period is around 6pm-12am (54%), mostly in summer season, Maximum cases educated upto High school (30%). In 94% cases, incidence took place of residence and majority were married(76%). Reasons of poisoning were financial problems (32%), family problems(28%), Unemployment(18%), ill health(8%)psychological ill health (4%), love failure(8%) and Marital unemployment, stress and family dispute. Poison consumed were Organophosphorous(64%), Aluminium phosphide(32%), Pyrethroid(1%), ethyl alcohol (1%), Paraquat(1%) and Alprazolem (1%). In present study external autopsy findings showed cyanosis (72%), froth around mouth(46%), petechial hemorrhage(56%) and injury over body(1%). Specific smell of content of stomach and small intestine being kerosene like in stomach (64%) and small intestine (26%), other findings include congestion in kidney(92%) and liver (87%). Conclusion: Suicidal poisoning is more common in younger age group and Organophosphorous is most commonly used poison.