SUDDEN UNEXPECTED DEATH SYNDROME AMONG MIGRANT LABOURERS IN NORTH KERALA- AN AUTOPSY-BASED STUDY

BACKGROUND Death among migrant labourers without a definite diagnosis even after autopsy and ancillary investigations is a real challenge for health system in Kerala. Most of the deaths were during night, having similar history and autopsy findings. We wanted to assess sudden and unexpected death among the migrant labourers to identify the common findings and risk factors if any. METHODS Study included all cases of sudden and unexpected death among the migrant labourers brought for medicolegal autopsy at Department of Forensic Medicine, Govt. Medical College Kozhikode during the period of 5 years (2011 April-2016 March). RESULTS 42 cases were studied. Most of them (59.5%) were young adults. 31 (73.8%) cases were those of recently migrated labourers (within 0-6 months). 29 (69.0%) cases were without a definite opinion as to cause of death. Among these 29 cases, some common findings were detected. 29 (100%) showed pulmonary oedema, 28 (96.5%) showed froth in the air passages and 27 (93.1%) showed flabbiness of heart. CONCLUSIONS Majority of the cases concluded without a post-mortem diagnosis. Risk factors like exhaustive work, recent migration and substance abuse were seen in all cases. Common autopsy findings such as froth in air passages, pulmonary oedema and flabbiness of heart correlated with the characteristic features of ‘Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome.