Prevalence of Poisons in Dead Bodies Reported to Khyber Medical College, Peshawar

Abstract

Introduction: Poisoning is worldwide leading morbidity and mortality cause, poison is defined as any substance which is taken in any amount and any route injures, endangers or kills a person. The study was focused on types of poisons and frequency of poisoning recorded in different age group.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of poisons in dead bodies reported to Khyber Medical College, Peshawar.

Design and Sitting: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at Mortuary section of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Khyber Medical College,Peshawar.

Methods: The study was conducted with the help of specifically designed proforma. All the data was entered into statistical software SPSS v25.0. Categorical variables like gender and type of poison calculated.

Results: The study revealed, Morphine (n= 07) was detected in the highest number of cases, followed by Amphetamine (n= 03) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (n= 03), while the others were found in a minor number of cases in this study. The gender male was the most common (n = 39) and died from poisoning, followed by the female (n= 05). A total of 46 instances were reported as negative, with a male population of (n= 37) and a female population of (n= 09). Young people between the ages of 21 and 40 were found to have the highest number of positive cases (n= 27). 

Conclusion: It is concluded that Morphine was found more prevalent in gender male rather than female population in the total number of reported cases.

Keyword: Poisoning, accidental, intentional, type of poisons, Morphine.