Fatal Poisoning Cases in a Teaching Hospital of West Bengal: a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Clinico-epidemiological Study

Authors

  • Ankur Bhattacharjee
  • Saptarshi Chatterjee
  • Partha Sarathi Hembram
  • Sobhan Kumar Das

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v15i4.16668

Keywords:

Demography, Gastric findings, Intentional poisoning

Abstract

Background: Poisoning is a global health issue and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in
India. Pattern of poisoning depends on factors, such as availability of poisons, socioeconomic status of the
population, religious and cultural influences, thus creating varied epidemiological trends across time and
regions. The present study is planned to address the epidemiological profiles of fatal poisoning cases, with
reference to the gastric findings during autopsy.
Methods: This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study analysing 184 fatal poisoning cases,
who attended to R.G. Kar Medical College Police Mortuary during the period of 2014-2015.
Conclusion : People of age group 20-29 years were mostly affected, with a male preponderance and an
incidence of 8.03%. People from the rural regions constituted more than 80% of the study sample, with
suicide as the commonest manner of death. Organophosphorus compounds and acids were the mainly
detected, with mucosal congestion and submucosal hemorrhage of stomach as the most reported findings.
The authors feel that a prospective study is an option, which could accurately identify the cases and deaths,
which could formulate stringent measures so as to decrease the morbidity and mortality due to poisoning.

Author Biographies

Ankur Bhattacharjee

Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, N.R.S. Medical College, Kolkata, West
Bengal

Saptarshi Chatterjee

Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Bankura Sammilani Medical
College, Bankura, West Bengal

Partha Sarathi Hembram

Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal

Sobhan Kumar Das

Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal

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Published

2021-08-16

How to Cite

Ankur Bhattacharjee, Saptarshi Chatterjee, Partha Sarathi Hembram, & Sobhan Kumar Das. (2021). Fatal Poisoning Cases in a Teaching Hospital of West Bengal: a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Clinico-epidemiological Study. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 15(4), 101–106. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v15i4.16668