<p><strong>Aims and objectives</strong>: To evaluate the reliability of forensic toxicological analysis reports in postmortem cases of admitted insecticide poisoning by correlating laboratory findings with clinical history, hospital records, police inquest, and autopsy observations.</p> <p><strong>Materials and methods</strong>: A retrospective postmortem -based study was conducted over two years (January 2023&ndash;December 2024) on medico-legal autopsies with a clinical diagnosis or history of insecticide ingestion and availability of Forensic Science Laboratory toxicological reports. Demographic variables, clinical parameters, duration of hospitalization, serum cholinesterase levels, autopsy findings, and toxicological results were analyzed. Categorical variables were compared using Chisquare or Fisher's exact test, continuous variables using the Kruskal&ndash;Wallis test, and binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with toxicological positivity.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: A total of 57 eligible cases were included. Toxicological analysis was negative in 44 (77.2%) cases, positive for insecticides in 8 (14.0%), and positive for other toxic compounds in 5 (8.8%). Increasing age and shorter dispatch-to-FSL interval were significantly associated with toxicological positivity. Prolonged hospitalization was associated with reduced toxicological detectability, while solid viscera demonstrated higher positivity than blood specimens.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Toxicological analysis alone is insufficient to establish the cause of death in admitted insecticide poisoning cases. Medico-legal opinion should be based on integrated interpretation of clinical history, circumstantial evidence, autopsy findings, and toxicological analysis</p>

<p>In this study we report a case of Organophosphate Induced Delayed Neuropathy (OPIDN) that is a rare clinical condition that occurs in association with ingestion of large amounts of organophosphorus compound.&nbsp; The clinical picture ranges from transient paraesthesia, tingling, and numbness to symmetrical motor weakness starting distally in lower limbs which then ascends to involve the upper limbs as well. Here is a case of 40-years= old female who presented with vomiting, excessive salivation and altered mentation. She had an alleged history of ingestion of organophosphate compound, dichlorvos 70 EC. She experienced an episode of generalised tonic-clonic seizures, required mechanical ventilation, and was managed in the ICU. th On the 10 day she developed bilateral lower limb symmetrical weakness, however neck and eye movementswas preserved. Higher mental function and cranial nerves functions were intact. MRI brain and cervical spine revealed no abnormality. Nerve conduction study was suggestive of motor axonal neuropathy in all four limbs. She was diagnosed as organophosphate induced delayed neuropathy and was managed with steroids.</p>

<p>Carbon disulde (CS2) is a solvent most commonly used in manufacturing of rayon.In industrial setting,CS2 is rarely released with isolation; it is almost always accompanied by hydrogen sulde(H2S). This may complicate the clinical and diagnostic picture. Consequently, while chronic toxicity is well documented, acute fatal poisoning from isolated or mixed with H2S inhalation is seldom reported in recent literature. This is a rare case report which describes the rapid clinical deterioration and detailed gross autopsy ndings following occupational CS2 exposure. Autopsy revealed severe cerebral edema and visceral congestion, demonstrating the intense neurotoxic and hypoxic effect of the gas on the tissues.</p>

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Amitraz, a formamidine pesticide widely used in veterinary and agricultural practice, has emerged as an important cause of poisoning in India. Its clinical manifestations often resemble organophosphorus or clonidine poisoning, making early diagnosis difficult. However, epidemiological data from southern India remain limited.</p> <p><strong>Objectives</strong>: To evaluate the demographic characteristics, clinical profile, complications, management, and outcomes of patients with Amitraz poisoning presenting to a tertiary care hospital.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong>: A prospective observational study was conducted at KIMS Teaching Hospital, Koppal, from July 2023 to December 2024. Fifty adult patients with confirmed Amitraz poisoning were enrolled. Demographic details, clinical features, laboratory investigations, treatment, and outcomes were recorded. Routine investigations included complete blood count, renal and liver function tests, arterial blood gas analysis, electrocardiography, and chest radiography. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: Patients aged 18&ndash;30 years constituted 54% of the study population, with males accounting for 68%. Farmers were the most affected occupational group (46%), and suicidal ingestion accounted for 98% of cases. Vomiting (92%), nausea (68%), and dizziness (48%) were the commonest symptoms. Bradycardia, tachycardia, hypotension, and pupillary abnormalities were observed in 12%, 28%, 22%, and 40% of patients, respectively. Hyperglycemia and glycosuria occurred in 14%, while respiratory alkalosis (8%) and metabolic acidosis (4%) were uncommon. Ventilatory support was required in 14%, whereas 86% recovered with supportive care.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Amitraz poisoning predominantly affects young males following intentional ingestion. Although cardiovascular and metabolic complications may occur, most patients recover with early diagnosis and prompt supportive management.</p>

<p><strong>Background</strong>:Yellow oleander poisoning(YOP) is a common cause of fatal plant poisoning in India due to its easy availability. While its clinical effects are well described in the literature, detailed autopsy and histopathological findings in fatal cases are less frequently reported.</p> <p><strong>Material and Methods</strong>: The cases for the study were collected after obtaining ethical permission and consent from patients admitted to the emergency department with a history of YOP and subsequently autopsied on death with ancillary histopathology and toxicology examination.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>:This case series describes three fatal cases of YOP with emphasis on autopsy and histopathological findings to better understand the underlying pathophysiology of death. All three patients had taken crushed parts of the plant on an empty stomach and presented within 3-6 hours of ingestion, with severe bradycardia and hypotension suggestive of marked cardiotoxicity. Clinical severity at admission was assessed using the Poisoning Severity Score (PSS), and all three cases were classified as Grade 4, indicating extreme toxicity. All patients succumbed within a short duration of admission, despite medical intervention. On Post-mortem examination,asphyxia signs such as cyanosis and facial congestion were noted. Internally, generalised visceral congestion was found in all cases. In the heart, haemorrhages were noticed in two cases, and the mucosa of the stomach was congested with patches of submucosal haemorrhage. Histopathological examination revealed mainly nonspecific changes such as vascular congestion and inflammation in various organs. However, myocardial sections revealed subepicardialand intramyocardial haemorrhages consistent with direct toxic injury.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong>:The YOP autopsy and histopathology findings are not pathognomonic, but the consistent cardiac involvement, when taken in conjunction with the severe clinical grading, supports the cardiotoxic action of cardiac glycosides and points out the value of clinicopathological correlation in such cases.</p>

<p>Paraquat is a widely used herbicide with a high degree of human toxicity and a significant rate of fatality. The lungs are the primary target organ; however, paraquat exposure is also associated with acute tubular necrosis and hepatic injury. The absence of a specific antidote contributes to its high mortality. Owing to its marked pulmonary affinity, paraquat induces rapid alveolar damage, often culminating in respiratory failure. Clinical outcomes are largely influenced by the quantity of paraquat ingested and the timeliness of medical intervention. In this case series, histopathological changes across multiple organs were evaluated in six victims of paraquat poisoning. The findings were analysed in relation to the ingested dose and survival duration and interpreted in the context of the existing literature.</p>