Epidemiotoxicological Profile of Fatal Poisoning Cases Autopsied at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Poisoning is a major public health problem worldwide with thousands of death occurring every year and most of the cases are being reported from developing countries. The present study includes all the cases of poisoning or suspected poisoning subjected for autopsy at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Basaveshwara medical college and hospital, chitradurga, Karnataka during the period 1stjanuary 2022 to june 2023 in which it was seen that poisoning accounted for 19.9% of autopsies. 24 Males (66.6%) and 12 females (12%) in the age group 21-30 years were commonly affected. Many victims were married males. Majority of cases were suicidal in manner (94.4%) and were from middle class social status (41.1%). The commonest poisoning was organophosphorus compound.