JIST

Abstract

Introduction : Poisoning is said to have occurred if any substance interferes with the normal body functioning after being inhaled, swallowed, injected or absorbed on an acute or chronic basis.

Aim : To determine and analyse the various parameters of poisoning such as age groups, sex, manner of death and type of poisons in the state of Goa.

Methodology : This is a 4-yearretrospective study in a tertiary care hospital in the state of Goa brought for postmortem examination at the Department of Forensic Medicine, GMC, as a result of death due to poisoning. Suspected cases of poisoning with either a clinical diagnosis or positive chemical analysis reports were included in the study.

Results : Out of 6110 autopsies conducted during the study period, 307(5.02%) cases were confirmed cases of poisoning, out of which 63.52% were males, and 36.48% were females. The majority of deaths were suicidal, as per Police reports, and organophosphorus compounds were commonly used.

Conclusion : The data reflect the burden of poisoning deaths in the regions and calls for appropriate region-specfic preventive measures to be adopted.