Abstract

Abstract:

Background: Poisoning is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Providing accurate statistical data is essential to understand the different aspects of poisoning cases for the seek of diagnosis particularly at the medicolegal side, and also for the seek of better management.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics, and the postmortem findings of fatal poisoning cases referred to the medicolegal directorate of Baghdad. To identify the most common toxic agents, and the manner of death, in addition to demonstrate the demographic factors for the purpose of prevention and management.

Materials and Methods: Retrospective study analyzing autopsy records from January 1st, 2021, to December 31st, 2022 in Medicolegal Directorate of Baghdad; focusing on cases where poisoning was the primary cause of death.

Results: The total number of cases was 328. There was a 35% increase in poisoning cases in 2022 compared to 2021. Males constituted 61.6% (202) of the total number of fatalities while females constituted 38.4% (126). Gaseous poisons were the most frequent cause of death accounting for 48.8% (160) of the total number of confirmed poisoning cases, in addition to other results of the study.

Conclusion: CO Poisoning was the most common cause of death. The vast majority of victims were exposed to poisoning by accident, and less than one-third resulted from suicide by pesticide ingestion. Drugs and volatile substances were other common causes of death, respectively.