Epidemiological trends in the fatal poisoning cases in the Malwa region of Punjab.

Poisoning represents major epidemic of non-communicable diseases in the present centaury. One of the commonest mode of un natural deaths all over the world are suicidal deaths and poisoning remains the commonest, particularly in countries like India, where there is no strict over the sale and storage of poisonous substances. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the pattern of poison deaths in the Malwa region of Punjab. This study was conducted on the autopsy cases brought to the mortuary, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. 562 medicolegal autopsy were performed in the mortuary, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, during the period from 1st September 2007 to 31st July 2008. Out of these 100 cases were suspected to have died of poisoning thereby constituting 17.8% of total un-natural deaths. Maximum cases were from 3rd decade of life and males outnumbered females. Data thus collected was analysed stastically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]